Dark Chocolate Health Benefits: Harvard Researcher Reports Dark Chocolate Helps Your Heart

Dark Chocolate Health Benefits: Harvard Researcher Reports Dark Chocolate Helps Your Heart

You may have been wondering about the benefits of dark chocolate and have questioned, "Is dark chocolate good for you?" According to an American Heart Association(AHA) scientific journal news release dated Aug. 17, 2010 dark chocolate health benefits are very real. The AHA news release reports that eating moderate amounts of chocolate is linked to lower risks of heart failure and associated with lowering blood pressure as well.

Experts warn, however, moderation is they key. Murrray Mittleman, M.D.,Dr.P.H. and director of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit at Harvard Medical School's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston says " If you're going to have a treat, dark chocolate is probably a good choice, as long as it's in moderation."

This is because the potential benefits of dark chocolate must be carefully weighed against the negative risks from the calories and high fat in many commercial chocolate products.

What To Watch Out For Is Saturated Fat

Even with the healthier dark variety of chocolate we must be aware of how much saturated fat we take in. The unsaturated fat component of chocolate is actually good, however. It actually helps raise good HDL cholesterol which plays a positive roll in cardiovascular health.

The Saturated Fat Content Of Hershey Special Dark

The suggested number of blocks for a single serving is 3 for the large size (6.8oz) Hershey Special Dark. This comes to a total of 11 grams of fat per serving according to the label. Seven of those grams are actually saturated fat grams.

How Much Daily Fat Can We Tolerate?

The AHA says the average American adult needs about 2,000 calories in their daily diet. Also according to the American Heart Association's Nutrition Committee sedentary (inactive) adults should limit daily saturated fat to 16 grams and total fat between 50 and 70 grams each day based on a 2,000 total calorie daily intake.

People that are active can actually consume more fat and calories with less negative consequences because of their generally higher metabolism rates and their need for more calories. By routinely exercising, eating fruits and vegetables and drinking at least eight glasses of water daily our bodies tend to burn more fat calories and flush more of the excess fat from the system.

The Good And The Bad On Hershey Special Dark

Based on the AHA's fat intake recommendation sedentary adults should stick to eating no more than two servings of Hershey Special Dark. This would be two servings of 3 blocks each of the large 6.8oz bar in a single day. In terms of saturated fat, this would contain 2 X 7g = 14grams of saturated fat content. This is within healthy daily limit guidelines (16 grams) for daily saturated fat consumption.

Keep in mind this allows for only another 2 grams of saturated fat from other sources in the diet for that day for sedentary people.

Other than saturated fat, the main negative with many store bought brands of chocolate is the high sugar content per serving. Observing the nutritional labeling of the Hershey Special Dark Chocolate bar we see that it is composed of one half sugar. This is based on each 36 gram serving having 18 grams of sugar. With this said, by all means enjoy dark chocolate health benefits but you may want to consider less sugary brands in doing so.

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