3 Reasons Why You Should Add Chocolate To Your Diet (In Moderation)

Have you heard the common saying “chocolate is good for your health”?

Since Easter is just around the corner (and the Easter bunny loves to bring chocolate), we wanted to let you know some health benefits of eating chocolate and what to look for when you are looking through your Easter basket.

Here are 3 reasons you should be adding a little chocolate to your diet:

1. 1. It lowers your risk for major disease: Chocolate contains antioxidants, which helps blood vessels relax and decreases blood pressure. As long as you keep your chocolate consumption to under 6 servings per week, it can lead to a plethora of benefits!
2. 2. It can reduce inflammation in the body: Inflammation can give our patients lots of issues and is one of the most common we see is sore muscles and tendons. Chocolate can provide an anti-inflammatory effect throughout your body. Cocoa can increase the number of good gut bacteria, which causes an anti-inflammatory response.
3. ***If you are experiencing inflammation and pain that is not going away, click here to fill out a short form to apply for a free consultation with a physical therapist to talk other solutions for your inflammation and pain.
4. 3. It can give you a pick me up: One ounce of dark chocolate with 70% cocoa has about 25 milligrams of caffeine. While it is not a lot of caffeine, it could still give you a mid-day pick me up while trying to finish out the workday. Be careful if you decide to indulge in chocolate as a midnight snack, as you might get the jolt of energy before bedtime!

It is important to remember that the health benefits from chocolate come from consuming it in moderation (6 servings or less a week). To get the best benefits, try to eat dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa. The higher the percentage of cocoa, the more nutritious it is. If you want something that is more filling, you can go with chocolate that has nuts in it.

We hope this helps you enjoy your Easter sweets without the guilt!