]You can have your health and eat chocolate too! Recent studies have shown that dark chocolate may prevent Type 2 Diabetes, improve heart health and lessen weight gain. Chocolate has antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and improve the health of your entire body.

Health benefits of chocolate

• Helps prevent Insulin Resistance
• Improves cardiovascular health
• Lowers body fat levels
• May prevent type 2 diabetes
• Reduces inflammation
• Improves Gut health

What makes chocolate a healthy choice?

Chocolate is: anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity and anti-carcinogenic. As if these traits weren’t reason enough chocolate has a high level of free radical fighting antioxidants.

• Gut health. As studies have shown it starts in your gut. Chocolate Studies using three different cocoas found that there is a connection between your gut flora and chocolates antioxidant flavonols. The bacteria in your intestinal tract break down the chocolate, which in turn releases its unique anti-inflammatory properties that promotes health.
• Diabetes. The flavonols (monomeric, oligomeric, and polymeric procyandins) are responsible for its protection in developing type 2 diabetes as well as reducing insulin resistance, reducing weight gain, body fat and regulating blood sugar levels.
• Heart health. The same study also found that the anti-inflammatory compound, released in the gut, was extremely beneficial to your cardiovascular health. This activity lessens the chance of stroke by reducing inflammation in the heart and blood vessels.  In fact one study showed that diabetics who drank a high flavanol cocoa beverage for a month changed their impaired blood vessel functioning back to normal function, something that only happens with exercise and medication. Chocolate also reduces platelet clumping that can cause heart attacks or strokes. It can even lower your blood pressure by helping your body process nitric oxide that’s responsible blood vessel health.

What kind of chocolate is the best?

Chocolate closest to its natural form is best. This includes: raw cacao (un-roasted nibs), cocoa powder (roasted) and dark chocolate. The darker the chocolate the more bitter it is and the more healthy flavonols it contains. Choose chocolate that has a cocoa percentage of 70% or more. Milk or white chocolate have little to no antioxidants and high amounts of sugar making them non-effective for promoting health.

How much chocolate can you eat per day?

The recommended amount is 6.7 grams (a small square) two to three times per week. Pair your dark chocolate with pomegranates, blueberries and raspberries for more antioxidant power. To get the most benefit from chocolate you need healthy gut bacteria to release its beneficial components. Prebiotics, whole foods that you don’t digest but your gut bacteria love, like fibre, garlic, onions can help as well as probiotic foods or supplements. Decreasing your intake of sugar and white flour also helps keep your good bacteria flourishing. The ancient Mayans knew best when they praised the virtues of chocolate. Adding this delicious food to your diet can help you stay healthy as well as taste good. Ask a naturopath how chocolate can help you.