February 07, 2012
Ok, Young Chiropractic can't give you a piece of chocolate via the computer, but we do have the power to share some of its perks with you.First of all, chocolate is good for you, especially the dark chocolate kind. Honest! Could that be why 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are bought for Valentine's Day? (1) Probably not, but your Easley chiropractor hopes you get one full of dark chocolates!
Chocolate and its primary ingredient, cocoa, have beneficial effects for your heart, mind and body.
- Cocoa has approximately 4 times greater antioxidant capacity than green tea and twice that of red wine. (2) The anti-oxidant flavanols located in cocoa beans reduce cell damage in heart disease and help reduce blood pressure. (4,6)
- Moderate (not too much!) consumption of dark chocolate offers blood pressure lowering effects and anti-inflammatory activity. (3,6)
- The anti-oxidants and the bigger magnesium content in dark chocolate can improve constipation trouble and even speed up bowel movements! (2,5) We chiropractors know that constipation when you have back pain isn't good!
These discoveries are why Young Chiropractic can live with the enjoyment of dark chocolate...in moderation, of course. Mood, memory, brain function, heart, immune system and stress reduction may all benefit as well. (2) Whose day isn't improved with a piece of chocolate?!
Young Chiropractic stands firm that not all nutrition has to be in pill form or even boring food form. Check out these articles, then chat with us about the viability of adding some dark chocolate to your life at your next Easley chiropractic visit. Contact us now to set that up before all the chocolate hearts start arriving!