A CHOCOLATE TREAT
Since chocolate is one of my guilty pleasures, it is important to note that, in its “dark” form, it is actually healthy for us. Does this take the fun out of it? Of course not.
Most people nowadays are aware of the health benefits of dark chocolate—and it’s important to note the distinction between “dark” and “milk” chocolate!—but what exactly makes it healthy?
In this site About.com.Longevity, we can find out a few of the reasons, like flavonoids, antioxidants, and protection from free radicals. All benefits that help ward off the aging process, etc.
I’m in! Not that I need a health reason, but it doesn’t hurt. Just as a glass of red wine can be heart healthy. Of course, that doesn’t mean that if one is good, two or three is even better! According to my doctor, that is…sigh.
All of this is leading up to my visit to the gym yesterday, followed by my reward at Barnes & Noble. I had my usual coffee (with two shots of Expresso), my Biscotti, and then I grabbed the Godiva dark chocolate bar you see pictured above. For later.
Someone told me that if we take a bite here and there throughout the day, the benefits are spread over time. That didn’t work for me, though, because after the first bite, two minutes later I had to have another…and then another.
But even as I savored the chocolate, knowing that it was a little bit healthy helped justify the desire to add this pleasurable tidbit to my life.
I tend to get carried away, though, so I should probably not fill up the pantry with these goodies, since we know what I do whenever the treats are close by!
What are your favorite treats? Does the fact that dark chocolate is also healthy (in small doses!) help you enjoy it more?
I read a comparison of chocolate one time in Prevention magazine and they stated 2 dove dark chocolates are the perfect amoun for getting any antioxidant benefit.
Wonderful! I love the idea of “a chocolate (or two!) a day keeps the doctor away.” Thanks for stopping by, Kaye.