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 Health Benefits
Fragrant, sweet tasting, creamy-smooth, mellow, or intensely dark and rich, the sensory satisfaction of eating chocolate is one of life's blissful pleasures, often leading to feelings of comfort and well-being. But, is there any evidence that eating chocolate offers nutritional benefits beyond a healthy feeling of satisfaction? The answer is yes.
Dark chocolate contains good levels of naturally occurring healthful flavonoids, which can offer the following protective antioxidant benefits:
- Can help maintain healthy blood pressure
- Can help maintain blood cholesterol levels within a normal range
- Can help people with diabetes by impacting function of the hormone insulin, which regulates blood sugar
SOURCE: WebMD Medical News: "Dark Chocolate May Lower Blood Pressure." WebMD Medical News: "A Dark Chocolate a Day Keeps the Doctor Away."
Published March 15, 2005.
Antioxidant Food Sources:
- Bittersweet Chocolate Bars (1/2 oz of NESTLÉ CHOCOLATIER™ 62% cacao): 143 mg of antioxidants
- Dark Chocolate Bars (1/2 oz of NESTLÉ CHOCOLATIER™ 53% cacao): 116 mg of antioxidants
- Green Tea (8 fl oz.): 190 mg of antioxidants
- Blueberries (1/2 cup): 225 mg of antioxidants
- Blackberries (1/2 cup): 182 mg of antioxidants
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