Dark chocolate is my friend

Through my extensive research on Google, I have learned the following:

• dark chocolate lowers blood pressure
• dark chocolate improves insulin sensitivity
• dark chocolate contains Endorphins, which bring on a relaxed state of mind, enable more oxygen to reach our inner blood supply and even improve our memory
• dark chocolate contains Seratonin, a neurotransmitter that works in our body as an anti-depressant
• dark chocolate contains endorphins, which act like natural opiates in treating chronic pain
• cocoa butter in chocolate coats the teeth while it’s being consumed making it one of the least likely snacks to cause tooth decay
• dark chocolate contains the vitamins B1, B2, D and E as well as the minerals potassium and magnesium
• dark chocolate contains high doses of several key antioxidants, which help prevent heart disease and cancer
• dark chocolate inhibits platelet aggregation which could cause a heart attack or stroke
• dark chocolate contains stearic acid, which can boost HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels
• dark chocolate is a good source of potassium, as well as vitamins B1, B2, D, and E
• Cocoa is the highest natural source for Magnesium. Magnesium deficiency is linked with hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, joint problems and pre-menstrual tension. Adding magnesium to a deficient diet has been proved to increase pre-menstrual progesterone levels, thus alleviating mood swings.
• dark chocolate neutralizes damaging free radicals, substances believed to advance aging

I also found the following article. The Reuter’s link appears to have expired, but I believe the article is authentic. Wouldn’t you?

LONDON (Reuters) – Pregnant women rejoice. Eating chocolate is good for the baby, say Finnish researchers.
Scientists at the University of Helsinki, who asked 300 pregnant women to record their chocolate consumption and stress levels, found that daily treats had a positive impact on the newborn baby’s behavior.
Six months after the infants were born the mothers who had eaten chocolate reported more smiling and laughter in their offspring.
“And the babies of stressed women who had regularly consumed chocolate showed less fear of new situations than babies of stressed women who had abstained,” New Scientist magazine said Tuesday.
Katri Raikkanen and colleagues who conducted the research admitted they can’t be certain that chocolate consumption and the babies’ behavior are not linked with other factors.
“But they speculate that the effects they observed could result from chemicals in chocolate associated with a positive mood being passed on to the baby in the womb,” the magazine added.

I, for one, am going to eat healthier from now on.

Related posts:

1. Chocolate is my friend
2. A chocolate week
3. Unity in chocolate
4. Chocolate and coffee confessions
5. 10 Reasons you have a headache and how chocolate can help