Dark chocolate is healthy?

                Scientists have made a new discovery that could change a lot of things for chocolate lovers. Dark chocolate may be healthier to eat than milk chocolate. This could be a huge step up in offering an alternative to the addicting milk chocolate that can be harmful to your health when consuming large amounts. What makes dark chocolate healthier?

                Well, Faculty of Life Sciences (LIFE) at the University of Copenhagen found that dark chocolate is much more filling than milk chocolate. This would cause people to crave salty, sweet, and other fatty foods much less. They think that consuming a reasonable amount of dark chocolate over the holidays could help keep your weight down.

                A study was done with 16 young men to test this theory. Half of the men were tested eating dark chocolate, and half with milk chocolate. Each consumed an equal amount (100g) of their given chocolate within a given time. They were asked to record their hunger throughout the next few hours. They were then offered pizza and instructed to eat enough to satisfy themselves. After measuring each man’s calorie intake, the scientists’ hypothesis was proven correct. The men that had consumed dark chocolate had consumed about 15 percent less calories than those that had consumed milk chocolate.

                Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Cologne in Germany found that dark chocolate also helps lower blood pressure, but only when combined with a healthy and well-balanced diet. Mauro Serafini, PhD, of Italy's National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research also finds that there are helpful antioxidants in dark chocolate that prevent certain molecules that cause heart disease.

                I don’t know about you, but I think these are some pretty big factors that can be caused by making a small change in one’s diet. I have a big sweet tooth and next time I eat chocolate, I might take a step back and consider the alternative of eating dark chocolate to improve my health.

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http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20030827/dark-chocolate-is-healthy-chocolate

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081210091039.htm