Know that
guilty feeling that creeps in every time you bite into a piece of
chocolate? Turns out it’s all for naught. (Well, mostly.) Recent studies
show that chocolate is actually good for your teeth – and your overall health.
It turns out that chocolate contains powerful antioxidants
called polyphenols and flavanols. Polyphenols prevent bacteria from
turning the sugar and starches contained in chocolate into acids that
cause decay. They can help reduce the chances of hypertension and stroke
and may even help protect the heart. Dark chocolate is particularly
high in flavanols – and has more antioxidant power than green tea.
The cocoa butter contained in chocolate also packs a
healthy punch. When you eat a piece of chocolate, the cocoa butter in it
coats your teeth, preventing plaque from sticking to your teeth. And
what about the “butter” part of cocoa butter – should you worry about
fat? Nope. This kind does not raise cholesterol.
Now for the Bad News
Chocolate is high in calories; one 1-ounce piece of dark
chocolate can contain 150 calories or more. So if you’re watching your
waistline, you’ll have to control yourself. Plus, to benefit from
chocolate’s goodness, all you have to do is eat three 1-ounce pieces of
it a week.
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