| Dr. Gary Kaplan |
Greetings!
Good news! Giving your sweetheart a gift of dark chocolate on Valentine's Day is not only romantic, it's also heart-healthy!
Dark chocolate is known as a "super food," because it is chock-full of antioxidants that fight dangerous free radicals in your body. In addition, dark chocolate reduces blood pressure, increases the elasticity of the blood vessels, reduces inflammation, and reduces LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. In sum, including dark chocolate in your diet can significantly reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Hard to believe? Read the medical research for yourself! We've posted links to some of the studies on the left side of this newsletter. A few weeks ago, I appeared on NBC News4 to discuss the many health benefits of dark chocolate and to offer a few other health-boosting suggestions. Click the image below to watch the full interview:
A few take-away points: - Only dark chocolate provides health benefits, so stay away from the milk and white varieties.
- Look for dark chocolate containing at least 70% cocoa, the ingredient that is the source of the antioxidants. The higher the percentage of cocoa, the better.
- Eat chocolate in moderation! Not more than between 1.5 and 3.5 ounces per day. Although dark chocolate is good for you, the best diet is a balanced diet, so make sure you're also eating plenty of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables.
- Don't eat chocolate at night; it provides a dose of caffeine that can interfere with proper sleep, which is essential to obtaining and maintaining good health.
As always, you have our best wishes for your optimal health. Gary Kaplan, D.O. |