Apart from it being considered one of the most sensual and craved foods in the world, chocolate also has some sweet health benefits. Contrary to popular belief, chocolate has little effect on blood cholesterol because it's a plant product and thus cholesterol-free. Though it's high in saturated fat (10 grams per ounce, accounting for 60% of its calories), it doesn't boost blood cholesterol the way other saturated fats do. Chocolate is low in caffeine, is not addictive (to get a psychoactive effect, you'd have to eat about 70 lb. at one sitting) and it doesn't cause acne. Nor does it contribute much to tooth decay. Actually, cocoa contains substances that may inhibit the bacterial growth that promotes plaque and cavities. Chocolate is also rich in some of the same antioxidants as tea, so it actually may protect against some cancers. And it is high in copper content. So for this Valentine's Day, be old-fashioned - give chocolate!
Chester is a health nutrition consultant and is the owner of <a href="http://astronutrition.com/">AstroNutrition</a> - a provider of premium health nutrition and sports supplements.
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