Page 60 - Harnett Life Winter 2018

5 ways to add more nutrients to

your lifestyle

FAMILY FEATURES
nutritious diet is crucial for overall health and well-being. While it’s OK to indulge from time to time, it’s important
A to make sure you’re providing your body with appropriate nourishment.
There are many ways to help you add more of the essential nutrients you need into everyday meals, including these nutri-
tious ideas from CocoaVia.
The Truth About Chocolate

While there are many misconceptions about chocolate, especially when it comes to its health benefits, these facts from
the experts at CocoaVia set the record straight on some of the most common chocolate myths.

1. Chocolate contains powerful antioxidants. 3. Chocolate containing 70 percent cacao or greater is
Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, does contain cocoa good for you.
flavanols, phytonutrients which numerous scientific studies have The percentage of cacao is not a reliable indicator of a product’s
demonstrated have a positive impact on health. However, cocoa cocoa flavanol content. Unfortunately, there is also no way of
flavanols are not antioxidants. While not antioxidants, cocoa knowing exactly how many cocoa flavanols are in a conventional
flavanols have been shown to have positive effects on health that chocolate product because traditional cocoa processing, which
are linked to their ability to support the health and function of your includes fermenting, drying and roasting of beans, destroys many of
blood vessels. the flavanols naturally present in the cocoa bean.

2. Chocolate is good for your heart. 4. Chocolate is high in caffeine.
Chocolate can be part of a healthy diet, but it is not a health food. Chocolate does contain caffeine, but an average 1-ounce serving of
Even if chocolate is high in cocoa flavanols, the calories, fat and sugar dark chocolate contains less than half the amount of caffeine found in
leave it best-suited as an occasional indulgence. an average cup of black tea. The amount of caffeine in chocolate is
Page 60 in proportion to the percentage of cacao in the product, meaning milk
chocolate contains less caffeine than semi-sweet or dark chocolate.