With many different people finding out they have high cholesterol levels, research into the area has been growing and growing. With added research, scientists and health officials agree that there is a distinct link between chocolate and cholesterol, but not in a way that you might have previously thought.

While it should be noted that eating too much chocolate, and sweets in general could elevate obesity rates, and increase bad cholesterol in the system, there is a good use for dark chocolate in moderate levels. This will be tremendously good news for chocolate lovers, and for anyone that is looking for a simple plan to help them fight the elevation of bad cholesterol in the system.

It’s important to only eat special kinds of chocolate, as others do not have the same amount of high potency antioxidants. Dark chocolate is the key and contains upwards of 300 naturally occurring chemicals within it, and most importantly it has flavonoids. Flavonoids are found in a variety of foods and are the same compounds that have shown up in red wine, which can actually reduce bad cholesterol and have a protective effect against coronary heart disease.

While there have been some positive studies linking chocolate to lower cholesterol levels, it’s imperative not to take the news as an excuse to over indulge or have chocolate with every meal. There are some major benefits if you consume small quantities of dark chocolate on a regular basis, but it must be accompanied by a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. It’s important to understand that the body needs balance, and a good balancing act of diet & exercise will keep high cholesterol levels from being a factor in many cardiovascular diseases.

For those that aren’t really positive on chocolate, consider that some research has also stated that cocoa powder works just as well as eating dark chocolate. The link relies heavily on the fact that the body needs antioxidant levels to be increased in order to help stave off infection and disease of all kind. Oxidation in the blood stream is a natural process that occurs when the body digests foods, however, the process also produces splinter cells called Free Radicals. Free Radicals can attack healthy tissue and organs and produce varied results, leading to cardiovascular disease and elevated cholesterol levels. However, to fight the splintered aggressive cells, increasing the body’s antioxidant levels can help fight off bad cells, and help the immune system altogether.

One of the major ways to get antioxidants into the system is to eat more fruits and vegetables. While there is a major link between chocolate and lower cholesterol levels, it should be noted that it’s not the only way. You can enjoy chocolate in moderation, all while increasing your intake of natural products, to create a balanced diet. When combining diet with moderate exercise and avoiding highly processed, refined foods, the body can naturally reverse the risks that high cholesterol produces in the cardiovascular system. Overall health is important, and balance is the key here. Always get regular blood tests done alongside your annual physical, and make sure that you and your doctor are having conversations to help you live a good, healthy life.

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Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: lower bad cholesterol,highly processed foods,processed foods,high cholesterol,overall diet