Are you a fan of chocolate?  Well that is a DUMB question…you are a WOMAN!  Of course you are a fan of chocolate!  We know there are the few exceptions out there of women who don’t crave its velvety, smooth goodness, but for those of you who are chocolate-obsessed…let’s break it down and take away some of your guilt around eating this indulgence.

 

It’s important to note that chocolate, like any treat, should be consumed in moderation.  So don’t finish reading this article and raid your local drug store for the rest of their Valentine’s Day stash!  That said, if you want to indulge and cater to your sweet tooth, chocolate is a great way to do so and will even offer you some health benefits.

 

WHAT ARE SOME HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHOCOLATE?

According to Healthline [1], there are several benefits to eating the RIGHT kind of chocolate.  These include:

NOT ALL CHOCOLATE IS CREATED EQUAL

As noted above, when it comes to health benefits, dark chocolate is the way to go.  The darker the better!  In fact, you want to stick with chocolates that are at least 65% cacao [2].  Milk chocolate contains milk powder or condensed milk and is only required to have a 25% basis of cocoa [3].  Therefore, when you eat milk chocolate, you are not getting the same health benefits as you do when you eat a darker chocolate.

 

BEST PRACTICES AROUND CHOCOLATE CONSUMPTION

If you find yourself desiring chocolate on a regular basis, don’t deny yourself that opportunity.  The more you deny yourself anything, the more likely you are to over-indulge [4].  Here are some practical tips you can implement to enjoy this treat and still stay focused on a healthy lifestyle:

 

The bottom line is that chocolate is a great source of nutrients and flavor that many of us enjoy.  Make it a worthwhile experience and treat yourself right when it comes to enjoying this decadence.

 


References:

  1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate#section1

  2. https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/blogs/fitstop/2012/01/23/healthy-eating/milk-chocolate-or-dark-chocolate/

  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate

  4. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201401/feeling-deprived-can-lead-some-illogical-behavior