Things You Didn't Know About Dark Chocolate

Chocolate has a bad reputation in the food community because most (read: milk) chocolate is packed with sugar and doesn't offer any real nutrition. But dark chocolate can actually be very healthful.

Along with healthy diet and exercise, dark chocolate may help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL).

Eating a few bites of dark chocolate can improve your blood pressure with polyphenols, which help increase the oxygen flow through your arteries.

Chocolate produces serotonin, which releases lots of good feelings in your brain and allows you to de-stress naturally.

The antioxidants in dark chocolate help prevent heart disease by improving blood flow and protecting against hardening of the arteries. Choose dark chocolate with high cocoa content for maximum antioxidants.

Munch on some dark chocolate and let the good times roll. Chocolate increases levels of endorphins, which produce happy feelings in your brain.

Raw dark chocolate has plenty of antioxidants, potassium, copper, iron, and magnesium, which all help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Fighting a craving for something sweet is tough and often results in unhealthy binge eating. Allow yourself a bit of dark chocolate, as it contains fiber, which helps you feel fuller than milk chocolate. Dark chocolate also aids in appetite reduction and increase of energy.