Are You A Chocoholic? Succumb To Your Sweet Tooth!

Alright, so you have just gorged on your favourite bar of chocolate and are now suffering guilt pangs. Sounds familiar? Maybe you should read on and see if you feel better.

Research has contributed to findings that suggest that chocolates may not be the guilty pleasure they are thought to be.

Chocolates are derived from cocoa bean, the fruit of the cacao tree. It is true that chocolates are high in saturated fat (which is present in cocoa butter) and calories. However, there are findings that indicate that chocolates may have positive cardiovascular benefits.

For years people have been encouraged to eat more vegetables and fruits, owing to the presence of antioxidants in them. It is now believed that chocolates contain substances called "flavonoids", which are present in cocoa.

These are antioxidants, as also found in red wine, fruits , tea etc , which help the blood vessels relax and prevent blood clots. Sounds good ? Wait before you reach out for more because it is too early to conclude that eating chocolates may ward off heart disease.

Chocolates have also been lauded as a 'comfort food', contributing towards helping a person maintain a positive outlook. Consuming chocolate triggers off 'endorphins' in the body that psychologically make you feel good.

Further, it is believed that cocoa powder, and to a lesser degree, dark chocolate and milk chocolate also contain antioxidants. It is therefore a good idea to head for dark chocolate, as it contains more antioxidants than milk chocolate, and also has less fat and sugar.

Just as chocolate lovers like me are welcoming these new findings, you must remember that 'moderation' is the key word. Just as with all things in life, anything in excess does more harm than good! While it's okay to have that bite, see that you don't splurge.

Don't cheat on yourself and your body won't cheat you!