Here is a definite answer to the question, "Is dark chocolate good for you?" Yes, the benefits of dark chocolate have been confirmed by medical science. According to an American Heart Association(AHA) scientific journal news release dated Aug. 17, 2010 there certainly are dark chocolate health benefits. According to the AHA report eating moderate amounts of chocolate is linked to lower risks of heart failure among other benefits.
Experts warn, however, moderation is they key. Murrray Mittleman, M.D.,Dr.P.H. and director of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit at Harvard Medical School's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston says " If you're going to have a treat, dark chocolate is probably a good choice, as long as it's in moderation."
This is because the potential benefits of dark chocolate must be carefully weighed against the negative risks from the calories and high fat in many commercial chocolate products.
Watching Out For Saturated Fat
What to look out for is the amount of saturated fat and sugar we consume with any type of sweets and chocolate products including dark chocolate. Be aware there is unsaturated fat and then there is the less desirable saturated fat. Dark chocolate health benefits actually come, in part, from its unsaturated fat component. The unsaturated fat in chocolate actually helps raise good HDL cholesterol levels and that is good for the heart.
The Fat Content Of America's Most Popular Chocolate Bar
Hershey's Special Dark's suggested serving size is 3 blocks for the large 6.8oz(192 grams) size bar. The total fat per serving in 3 blocks is 11 g of which 7g is saturated fat.
How Much Daily Fat Do We Need?
The average adult needs about 2,000 calories each day. The American Heart Association's Nutrition Committee strongly advises, based on this number of calories consumed, that the average sedentary adult limit total fat intake to less than 16 g saturated fat and total fat in the range of 50 to 70 grams total daily.
Individuals who have adapted active lifestyles, however, can quite naturally handle a higher fat intake than those who are inactive. Regular physical activity, eating generous quantities of vegetables and fruits along with drinking plenty of water daily tends to help burn fat calories and flush excessive fat from the system.
How Much Hershey Special Dark Chocolate Is Good For You?
If we follow the guidelines of the AHA and if we are sedentary we will not want to consume more than 2 servings of Hershey Special Dark daily. This is due to the fact that a single serving, which is 3 blocks contains 7 grams of saturated fat. Two of these 3 block servings would provide a total of 14 grams of saturated fat.
Keep in mind this allows for only another 2 grams of saturated fat from other sources in the diet for that day for sedentary people.
Other than saturated fat, the main negative with many store bought brands of chocolate is the high sugar content per serving. Observing the nutritional labeling of the Hershey Special Dark Chocolate bar we see that it is composed of one half sugar. This is based on each 36 gram serving having 18 grams of sugar. With this said, by all means enjoy dark chocolate health benefits but you may want to consider less sugary brands in doing so.
Experts warn, however, moderation is they key. Murrray Mittleman, M.D.,Dr.P.H. and director of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit at Harvard Medical School's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston says " If you're going to have a treat, dark chocolate is probably a good choice, as long as it's in moderation."
This is because the potential benefits of dark chocolate must be carefully weighed against the negative risks from the calories and high fat in many commercial chocolate products.
Watching Out For Saturated Fat
What to look out for is the amount of saturated fat and sugar we consume with any type of sweets and chocolate products including dark chocolate. Be aware there is unsaturated fat and then there is the less desirable saturated fat. Dark chocolate health benefits actually come, in part, from its unsaturated fat component. The unsaturated fat in chocolate actually helps raise good HDL cholesterol levels and that is good for the heart.
The Fat Content Of America's Most Popular Chocolate Bar
Hershey's Special Dark's suggested serving size is 3 blocks for the large 6.8oz(192 grams) size bar. The total fat per serving in 3 blocks is 11 g of which 7g is saturated fat.
How Much Daily Fat Do We Need?
The average adult needs about 2,000 calories each day. The American Heart Association's Nutrition Committee strongly advises, based on this number of calories consumed, that the average sedentary adult limit total fat intake to less than 16 g saturated fat and total fat in the range of 50 to 70 grams total daily.
Individuals who have adapted active lifestyles, however, can quite naturally handle a higher fat intake than those who are inactive. Regular physical activity, eating generous quantities of vegetables and fruits along with drinking plenty of water daily tends to help burn fat calories and flush excessive fat from the system.
How Much Hershey Special Dark Chocolate Is Good For You?
If we follow the guidelines of the AHA and if we are sedentary we will not want to consume more than 2 servings of Hershey Special Dark daily. This is due to the fact that a single serving, which is 3 blocks contains 7 grams of saturated fat. Two of these 3 block servings would provide a total of 14 grams of saturated fat.
Keep in mind this allows for only another 2 grams of saturated fat from other sources in the diet for that day for sedentary people.
Other than saturated fat, the main negative with many store bought brands of chocolate is the high sugar content per serving. Observing the nutritional labeling of the Hershey Special Dark Chocolate bar we see that it is composed of one half sugar. This is based on each 36 gram serving having 18 grams of sugar. With this said, by all means enjoy dark chocolate health benefits but you may want to consider less sugary brands in doing so.
About the Author:
Visit Walter Bell's Body Cleanse Chocolates blog to learn more about Dark Chocolate Health Benefits and about receiving a free sample of IsaDelights, a 50 calorie dark chocolate taste sensation that aids in weight loss. For complete details visit website www.bodycleansechocolates.com
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