Chocolate now comes in doses
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Love may be in the air we breathe this holiday, but chocolates are what we are eating. Americans spend an estimated one billion dollars on chocolate products for Valentines Day. There is no doubt it’s a popular gift, but doctors say depending on what you choose, it could also be a gift of health.
"A small piece of dark chocolate with lots of love will be the best approach." Doctor’s orders for this Valentines Day from Dr J. Brent Muhlestein, a cardiologist at Intermountain Medical Center. He is, however, pretty specific about what kind of chocolate, and how much.
For full health benefits he says the chocolate must be dark. "The cocoa bean has a lot of naturally occurring products called flavonoids which have special properties. They are anti-inflammatory and they are also antioxidant.”
Two tablespoons of natural cocoa have more cell protecting antioxidants than 3 1/2 cups of green tea, 3/4 cup of blueberries, and 1 1/2 glasses of red wine. Those flavonoids reduce inflammation in the body. "It’s just cocoa bean, and these flavonoids that are felt to be beneficial, and if you have dark chocolate you have more of the cocoa than you have other things.” Milk chocolate has flavonoids but in lesser quantity. It’s diluted by milk or cream and contains extra sugar.
Doctors are so serious about the benefits of dark chocolate they now have a prescribed dosage. A quarter ounce a day. "You shouldn't use this to rationalize, and so oh I can eat all of the chocolate I want because it's heart healthy, that's not the case."
Still, he says this is one indulgence you can feel good about, in moderation.
"Taking appropriate amounts of chocolate without getting overweight will reduce your blood pressure which will reduce your chances of stroke."
"A small piece of dark chocolate with lots of love will be the best approach." Doctor’s orders for this Valentines Day from Dr J. Brent Muhlestein, a cardiologist at Intermountain Medical Center. He is, however, pretty specific about what kind of chocolate, and how much.
For full health benefits he says the chocolate must be dark. "The cocoa bean has a lot of naturally occurring products called flavonoids which have special properties. They are anti-inflammatory and they are also antioxidant.”
Two tablespoons of natural cocoa have more cell protecting antioxidants than 3 1/2 cups of green tea, 3/4 cup of blueberries, and 1 1/2 glasses of red wine. Those flavonoids reduce inflammation in the body. "It’s just cocoa bean, and these flavonoids that are felt to be beneficial, and if you have dark chocolate you have more of the cocoa than you have other things.” Milk chocolate has flavonoids but in lesser quantity. It’s diluted by milk or cream and contains extra sugar.
Doctors are so serious about the benefits of dark chocolate they now have a prescribed dosage. A quarter ounce a day. "You shouldn't use this to rationalize, and so oh I can eat all of the chocolate I want because it's heart healthy, that's not the case."
Still, he says this is one indulgence you can feel good about, in moderation.
"Taking appropriate amounts of chocolate without getting overweight will reduce your blood pressure which will reduce your chances of stroke."
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