February 07, 2012
Ok, Executive Chiropractic of Iowa can't present you a piece of chocolate via the computer, but we can share some of its benefits with you.First and foremost, chocolate is good for you, especially the dark chocolate kind. Honest! Could that be why 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold for Valentine's Day? (1) Probably not, but your West Des Moines chiropractor hopes you get one full of dark chocolates!
Chocolate and its principal ingredient, cocoa, have advantageous effects for your heart, mind and body.
- Cocoa has roughly 4 times greater antioxidant capacity than green tea and twice that of red wine. (2) The anti-oxidant flavanols located in cocoa beans lowers cell damage in heart disease and help lower blood pressure. (4,6)
- Moderate (not overly indulgent!) 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 might help with constipation trouble and even speed up bowel movements! (2,5) We chiropractors know that constipation when you have back pain isn't good!
These conclusions are why Executive Chiropractic of Iowa can put up 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 made better with a piece of chocolate?!
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is adamant 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 West Des Moines chiropractic visit. Contact us now to set that up before all the chocolate hearts start arriving!