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How To Get The Best Health Benefits From Chocolate
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If you’re looking for a sweet snack that packs some health benefits, look no further than chocolate. You read that correctly, you can eat chocolate for a healthy treat, but the key is to look for the right kind. With all the options out there, that can be a little more difficult than it sounds! However, if you do the right research you can find the right type of chocolate to boost your health and wellbeing. New scientific studies show that eating a daily serving of chocolate can improve your heart health and reduce the chances of heart disease. Pretty amazing!
So how do you get the most out of chocolate and improve your health? Read these tips below for finding the best chocolate for your health.
1. Cocoa Butter is Essential
If you’re looking for a healthy chocolate, it is critical you look for one that is high in the healthy fats such as cocoa butter. Natural chocolate naturally contains cocoa butter, which is a healthy fat and essential for keeping your heart healthy. Always be sure to read the label and compare ingredients, as sometimes some of the manufacturers can try to trick you by adding ingredients to cheat the system.
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2. Bitter is the Best
Dark chocolate has long been touted as one of the best types of chocolate to eat for its health benefits. Since chocolate has gotten more popular, a lot of imitators have emerged on the marketplace and you have to really do your research to make sure you get the right one. Dark chocolate is one of the best types of chocolates available for purchase, and it has some amazing antioxidants. The bitter taste is a signature part of dark chocolate, and this is due to the natural ingredients that make it good for you. The more bitter the chocolate, the better it is for you.
3. Skip the Processed Chocolate
Processed foods can be bad for you, and the same is true for processed chocolate. If you have any chocolate with alkaline or that has been processed, you should get rid of it. When you process chocolate, you actually get rid of a large amount of the antioxidants. Be sure to go as natural as possible when you buy chocolate for the health benefits.
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4. Enjoy it Slowly
When you take the time to really enjoy the snack you’re eating, you actually don’t eat as much. So, top off the benefits of eating healthy chocolate by doing so in moderation. You should always practice portion control no matter what you’re eating, but when it comes to desserts and sweets, it is even more important. The simple act of taking the time to enjoy your snack can keep you from going overboard with you sweet treats.
5. Simple is Better
When you’re looking for the best chocolate to boost your health and well-being, keep it simple. All natural ingredients and few ingredients make the best chocolate. Don’t buy brands that substitute ingredients; you want to be sure to get a piece of chocolate with natural, organic ingredients like cacao and sugar.
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6. Combine with Other Powerful Antioxidants
You can combine chocolate with other amazing superfoods to really get the most out of your treat. Also, by combining chocolate with other foods, you slow down the digestion process, and this is where you really reap the benefits. Digesting dark chocolate and combining it with power-packed berries like acai or even pomegranate will really boost your body’s ability to absorb all the most important ingredients. There are a lot of options when it comes to pairing dark chocolate with other superfoods – really, the sky is the limit. If you are interested in this option, do you research and search out powerful, antioxidant-rich foods to pair with your chocolate fix. If you do this, you’ll be able to boost the results of both ingredients.
READ ALSO: Dark Chocolate, The New Super Food?
Now you know how to research and purchase the right kind of chocolate in order to get the most out of its health benefits. Applying it to your meal plan is easy when you know what to buy and how to eat it. With a little research, you’ll understand how to look past the slick advertising and fancy labels to find the right dark chocolate for you. The best thing is that you can still indulge in something sweet while getting a healthy option that protects your heart. It really is the best of both worlds!
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