Some believe there is nothing better than a hot chocolate to fight the cold. The good news is that besides being delicious, it’s healthy.
Adriana Alvarado, Nutritionist from the Clinical Nutrition Center (CNC) said that chocolate helps regulate blood pressure, increase good cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease by up to 50%.
The benefits of chocolate, there are 11 grams of fiber per every 100 grams of chocolate; it is a source of iron, magnesium, copper and manganese. If you have a cup of hot milk with cocoa at night, it helps increase serotonin levels that produces happiness and well-being feelings,”
said the doctor.
According to the expert, the key is choosing the dark chocolate or cocoa that has more antioxidants and ideally consume it in moderate portions.
It’s ideal to use cocoa powder; there are several brands that are pure cocoa or dark chocolate; one grates it and mixes it with skim milk and a low-calorie sweetener or a little raw sugar.”
Chocolate reduces mental fatigue and improves cognitive functioning, it contains phenylethylamine, a neuromodulator substance that stimulates brain areas that keep you alert and also causes the release of b-endorphin, an opioid that causes pleasure.
It has been found that chocolate can improve the mood after 30 days of consuming daily, and that it reduces the presence or incidence of cardio-metabolic disorders such as stroke, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.