Milk Chocolate and Cholesterol Blood Levels

 
Chocolate comes from plants and plants do not produce cholesterol, only animals do. Dark colored plants are known to have many health benefits one of which is flavonoids.  Flavonoids act as antioxidants which protect the body by neutralizing free radicals (charged chemicals which are byproducts of body processes). Free radicals roam the bloodstream and when they encounter LDL particles (bad cholesterol), they help to oxidize them. In their oxidized state, LDL particles can more easily burrow into the artery-cell walls and hasten hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times as much as found in strawberries). It has been shown to reduce LDL levels by as much as 10 percent.

Dark chocolate does contain fats: Oleic Acid is a healthy monounsaturated fat

that is also found in olive oil, Steari Acid is a saturated fat but one which research shows has a neutral effect on cholesterol. Palmitic Acid is a saturated fat, one which raises cholesterol and the heart disease risk. This means that 1/3 of the fat in dark chocolate is bad for you.

            Since dark chocolate is high in calories, consumption should be limited to 100 grams a day or about 3.5 ounces. One bar of dark chocolate has about 400 calories, so if you eat ½ a bar a day you must balance your diet by eating less of something else.

            Dark chocolate has more antioxidants than milk or white chocolate. The latter cannot make any health claims. Dark chocolate is 65 percent higher in cocoa content. Avoid eating your dark chocolate with milk, because milk can prevent the antioxidants from being absorbed by the body.

            Consumption of dark chocolate has been shown to reduce blood levels of LDL cholesterol and increase the levels of HDL cholesterol.

            Look for dark chocolate bars with high-cocoa content. Dove dark chocolate is and example, but there are others. High-cocoa content assures that the bar is loaded with a flavonoid called epicatechin which prevents cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels, reduces the risk of blood clots, and slows down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries.

            Buy dark chocolate with orange peel or nuts in it. Avoid the bars with nougat or caramel, if you eat these you will be losing the benefits you are trying to get from the dark chocolate.

            Please remember that dark chocolate is not a substitute for a balanced diet. If eaten it should complement a balanced diet containing fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and meat.