Drink Hot Cocoa and Stay Healthy

Most people just think of cocoa and hot chocolate as desserts or comfort food for stressful times. But the truth of the matter is, it is more than just that. Cocoa appears to be a very good source of concentrated flavonoids that keep our hearts healthy. Flavonoids are a group of antioxidants compounds that can also be found in fruits and other vegetables.

Studies have shown that overweight individuals who drank specially processed cocoa drinks had their blood vessel functions improve in just 2 hours upon drinking. Of course, with better blood vessel function, one lowers his risks of developing cardiovascular disease.

Milk and white chocolates may be considered a rather touchy subject in this regard because although cocoa and milk both contain flavonoids, the fat in certain milk products may raise one's risks of acquiring heart problems, especially in overweight individuals. White chocolate is said to not have the healthy flavonoids found in dark chocolates.

But not only does the flavonoids in cocoa able to improve heart health, it can also help fight cancer. Pure cocoa has twice as much antioxidants as red wine, and thrice as much as green tea. Again, doctors suggest moderation in eating chocolates as not all variants are processed healthily. Some contain a lot of sugar, some have lost their flavonoids, while some have too much fat mixed into them.

Yet another health benefit of drinking cocoa is it's epicatechin content. This compound has been noted to be abundant in natural cocoa drinks and have been observed to lower risks of stroke, heart failure, cancer, and diabetes.

Sure, a lot of people would start asking, “Can't you get the same flavonoids and benefits from other fruits or vegetables in the market?” Sure you can. You can choose to munch on a wide variety of veggies and fruits and get the same effect. But wouldn't it be more fun knowing that you get to have the same health benefits while enjoying a warm cup of delicious cocoa?