A moment on the lips... and a lifetime on the hips? Well not necessarily! So great news for those of you chocoholics who are conscious of their figure (much like myself). Go ahead, and enjoy that chocolate kiss! Indulge on this day, and think of the benefits rather than the consequences of giving into your desires! Giving into your craving is even a good idea in fact. Rather than depriving yourself entirely of something you love (therefore increasing your desire for this forbidden item)... allow yourself to have a little (yes the key is a *small* amount) up to once a day. Yes indeed.. I did say every day. Sounds crazy? Just give it a try. A small square of chocolate, not the entire chocolate bar of course... can do wonders for staving off those undeniable cravings. And.. the calorie set-back is not significant enough to cause mayhem in any way. Moderation is key however, because a whole candy bar boasts upwards of 300kcals in most cases (the size of a small meal)- word to the wise.
There are many reported benefits associated with the consumption of small amounts of chocolate (dark chocolate reigns supreme here). These include improved heart health, kidney function, brain health, immune defense, improved diabetes, lower LDL cholesterol and improved blood pressure. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids (disease-preventing compounds also found in red wine and tea) that come from extracts of the cocoa bean. Choosing dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa (65% or greater) gives your body more of these healthy antioxidants. The darker the chocolate, the more antioxidants and flavonoids it contains.
As it may seem too good to be true... all good things are meant to be savored moderately. I will quote the Dietitians of Canada, when they recommend that “When it comes to eating, choosing a wide variety of foods from Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating is still one of the best health promoting habits.” Please enjoy yourselves in moderation!
Happy Valentine's Day!!!
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