Eat More Chocolate!

Most of us don’t need a reason to make ourselves eat chocolate. The tasty treat itself is enough to make us reach for a second helping. Although we may stray away from eating too much chocolate, eating it consistently does have some amazing health benefits. These health benefits are limited to certain kinds of chocolate. Your average candy bar in isle 8 won’t make the cut. Chocolate with the greatest health benefits are dark chocolate, and products that have 70 percent or higher cocoa levels. So set aside your preconceived notions about chocolate as the “bad boy” and take a look at all of the amazing qualities it has to offer.

Better Skin

Eating chocolate that is rich with antioxidants can lead to skin that is smoother and less dried out. Studies have found that those who eat cocoa consistently have reduced moisture loss by up to 25 percent. 

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If you suffer from overly dry skin this can make a large difference.Your skin can also become more resistant to sunburns. A study comparing those who ate dark chocolate and milk chocolate found that those who ate dark chocolate had double the protection against UV rays. This is because cocoa raises blood circulation in the top layer of skin making it better equipt to draw in oxygen and nutrients that protect the skin.

Less Anxiety

When you are stressed out your body has many internal reactions. Your body produces cortisol, which can trigger fat that builds up around your organs. This can contribute to depression, heart disease, and stroke.

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However, studies found that people who ate about an ounce of chocolate every day had decreased levels of cortisol in their systems. Studies also found that those who ate cocoa daily had lower levels of anxiety and were calmer.

Healthier Heart

Chocolate contains cocoa butter, which has a large amount of saturated fat. Like other forms of saturated fat, there are benefits for your body. One-third of the fat found in cocoa butter is stearic acid which your liver can convert into a fat called oleic acid.

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Oleic acid has many amazing benefits. It can lower levels of bad cholesterol and boost levels of good cholesterol. The anti-inflammatory compounds of cocoa can also help flight vascular inflammation and improve the flexibility of your blood vessels. This is significant because this can reduce your blood pressure, and keep your blood platelets from sticking together and ultimately clogging up your artery walls.  

If you want these benefits, you’re going to have to eat cocoa consistently, but we’re sure you won’t mind biting that bullet. It is recommended you eat around 40 grams of a day for about eight weeks. Pop the chocolate in your mouth and let it melt away. Neighbors Emergency Center supports your start to a healthier lifestyle. NEC has just opened two new centers in Harlingen, Texas and Amarillo, Texas. Check our Facebook page to learn more about our new emergency centers. With our 24 hour emergency rooms throughout the Houston metro area, we can treat you quickly and effectively so you can get back to doing what you love.

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