Health Benefits of Chocolate

There are a lot of things we'll tell ourselves to justify our chocolate addiction. For instance:

“The calories don't count if you eat it after midnight.”

“It's just as good as sex.”

“If you feed it to your baby, she won't get pimples when she gets older. ”

“It's not cheating on your diet if you eat it on fruit.”

“Chocolate is good for you.”

Now, let's go through these 'myths' one by one:

1. Yeah, right. In my dreams!
2. We won't go there.
3. I just pulled this out of thin air.
4. See #1.
5. Actually, there's some truth to this one.

Yes, you read it right. Along with its amazing mood-enhancing qualities and awesome taste, chocolate does have some health benefits. While milk and white chocolate are still on the 'bad-foods' list, dark chocolate is surprisingly healthy. You won't find it in the health-food section of the grocery store anytime soon, but dark chocolate has several features that make it a 'reasonably-healthful' way to indulge your sweet tooth.

Dark chocolate has what are called 'flavonoids'-the substance that help protect plants from environmental toxins and repair damage. As the cocoa beans that make chocolate are processed to make the naturally-pungent flavor sweeter, those flavonoids can be lost. Dark chocolate is not processed as much (or in the same way) that milk chocolate is, so more of the flavonoids remain. The higher the percentage of the cocoa (sometimes you will see '60% cocoa', '75% cocoa', etc on the label) is in a bar of chocolate, the more flavonoids are left.

Flavonoids produce antioxidants that protect against the aging effects 'free radicals' can cause. Since these effects can lead to heart disease, dark chocolate can be heart-healthy. Dark chocolate has been shown to help lower the blood pressure and lower 'bad' cholesterol in people who have problems in these areas. While there are lots of fats in dark chocolate, only approximately 1/3 of those fats are saturated fats, which are the ones that are known to cause increases in cholesterol.

Heart benefits are not the only ways dark chocolate can help the body. It doesn't have the added sugars found in milk chocolate, so it won't make blood-sugar levels spike. It can raise serotonin levels in the brain, which give it an anti-depressant effect. It also contains phenethylamine, a substance that releases dopamine and other endorphins. Endorphins are part of sexual pleasure, which is probably where Myth #2 above comes from. I won't comment on the truth of it, so I'll just leave you to find out for yourself!

However good dark chocolate can be for you, you still don't want to over-indulge. It's still a high-fat, high-calorie food, so don't think you can go crazy with it. Like many other things in life, moderation is key. Just one ounce a few times a week will suffice. Even so, it's nice to know that at least one of our favorite treats isn't too bad for us!

Okay, who took my Special Dark bar? Give it back! :)

Eat yourself happy-foods that can help with depression or anxiety

You've probably heard of 'brain food', but what does that term refer to? Some people think it only refers to foods that can help your thinking process, but it means so much more than that. For some people, there are certain foods that can help us fend off mental issues such as depression and anxiety. I'm not talking about the way some of us (me included!) eat when we're sad or anxious to make ourselves feel better; I'm talking about foods that actually help with the chemical imbalances in our brains that can cause problems like this. If you have experienced depression or anxiety and would like to know what foods can help with it, read on.

Just so you know, this isn't a way to get out of taking medications if your doctor has prescribed them. While every system in your body works better when you are eating well and in good shape, your doctor wouldn't prescribe the medications if s/he didn't think you needed them. That said, these tips can supplement any current regimen you have for your mental health.

Omega-3 fats. Omega-3 fatty acids have gotten a lot of attention in recent years, and for good reason. These have multiple health benefits, one of which is helping your brain manufacture and properly absorb serotonin. Since these fats are not created within the body like other nutrients, it's essential to get them in your diet. One of the biggest sources of omega-3 fats is from oily fish such as salmon, shad, mackerel, tuna and sardines, but they can also be found in various kinds of nuts and oils. Canola oil and soybean oil, which you may already have in your cabinets for cooking, are good sources of these fats. Dark green leafy vegetables have them too, so be sure to eat your vegetables!

Selenium. The jury is still out on whether this mineral has a therapeutic effect on depression or anxiety, but studies have shown an association between consistently-bad moods and a lack of selenium intake. The good news is that it is found in foods that are already a part of a healthy diet. Lean meats, seafood, whole grains, legumes, nuts and low-fat dairy products are rich in selenium. You probably already have some of these foods in your refrigerator.

Vitamin D. A large amount of the Vitamin D that we get comes from sunlight, so this could be one reason many of us have lower moods in the winter than we do in the spring and summer. Foods such as fish, eggs and dairy products are also high in Vitamin D, so consuming these foods can help make up for the lack of sunlight we might experience at some times of the year.

Antioxidants. The same 'free radicals' we've heard about being associated with aging can also affect the brain. Vitamins C and E are particularly high in antioxidants, as is beta-carotene. Some foods that are high in these nutrients are fresh fruits, potatoes, broccoli, carrots and spinach. Margarine, vegetable oils and nuts are also high in Vitamin E.

As you can see, there are several foods and food categories that can help the brain develop and absorb the chemicals necessary to fight depression and anxiety. While they won't 'cure' people with more serious problems, they go a long way in ensuring our well-being. Eat up!