EXTRA!! EXTRA!! HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS.....DARK CHOCOLATE IS ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOU??

Forget about Valentines Day, Halloween, or break-ups!!!!!   I hereby declare Dark Chocolate a yummy treat to consume all year round with absolutely no guilt involved!!!!  Why should our kids have all the fun?? We should too!!!   It's so funny because I don't know about your house, but in my house.....when I buy dark chocolate...my kids want no part of it.....it's as if it was only made for all of us "big kids"  because mine just do not like the way it looks!!  Sweet justice!!!!   Don't ask me why, perhaps its the more bitter taste than what kids are used to...I don't know...all I do know is that I hope it lasts for a long time!!

Here's the skinny on Dark Chocolate.....it's like everything else in this wonderful world...you can enjoy it, BUT ONLY IN MODERATION.  I know you must be sick of hearing it.....but it is so true!  Now lets get to the learning part..So what's so good about Dark Chocolate???  It all starts with this little tiny seed from the cocoa tree and this little tiny seed is packed full of antioxidants......YES... the same stuff found in fruits and vegetables!!!  However, you have to buy the good stuff, not the milky looking chocolate bars that our kids love.  Make sure it contains 70-85% cocoa.   Now, I am not advocating consuming a Willy Wonka size bar at all.....but a nice small piece isn't going to hurt you at all!!!  In fact, as I tell many clients, the more you deny your taste buds a dance.....the more restricted you feel and then you end up binging!!   Remember though, Dark Chocolate does contain small amounts of sugar, but the darker the bar, the less sugar it will contain.

Some studies in very prestigious journals have toted that Dark Chocolate may actually help to lower High Blood Pressure in small amounts.   WOW!!  You are probably wondering how, right?? Well cocoa contains a compound called phenols that are known to lower blood pressure. 

O.K.......now just do me a favor.....remember what I said......only enjoy a small amount and don't replace your usual healthy stuff with Dark Chocolate......just make a wiser choice when you are at the chocolate store or are craving something rich and delicious!!! Enjoy!!!