Health benefits of eating chocolate

Live healthy and long

Repost from Newsmaxhealth | Feb 2013

For those who still feel guilty about eating chocolates, and although chocolate is associated with Valentine, eating chocolate, especially the dark ones has very clear health benefits:  (mainly because of anti oxidants that it contain)

Cardiovascular diseases.  Various studies have shown the beneficial effect of chocolate vs CVD:
    -in Germany, an 8 year study involving 20,000 subject showed that eating 2 oz of chocolate per day, decreased risk of stroke and heart attacks by 39%.  Wow.

   -in Australia, those women aged over 70% who ate chocolates were 60% less likely to die from heart attacks.

Chocolates were thought to have blood thinning properties.

Dementia.  American Heart Association journal  Hypertension said that drinking cocoa flavored flavonol  for 8 weeks showed improvement in memory.

Obesity. It is said to be a lazy man's exercise.  Eating chocolate, while it increases caloric intake caused decrease in weight

Diabetes.  Flavinoids in cocoa decreases insulin resistance enabling the body to metabolize glucose effectively thus decreasing demand for insulin

Depression.  Chocolate contains PEA (phenethylamine) the same compound when your brain releases when you fall in love.   triggering release of endorphins, the feel good hormone.  It also contains anadamine which stimulates the receptors in brain as marijuana.

Early death.   Those who ate chocolate lived longer for a year than those who did not.

Chocolate is also good for cough and migraine.

Chocolate anyone?