Introducing: Chocolate Week!!

How Sweet It Is is excited for this week.  Why, you ask?  Because Corinne and Susan have deemed this week Chocolate Week.  We will be posting something each day through Friday about one of our favorite subjects of all time: chocolate!  We'll give you a little Chocolate 101, post some easy chocolate recipes, and show off a few of our favorite chocolate creations, ending the week with a brand new chocolatey cupcake.

Let's talk today about five benefits of dark chocolate.  There are some excellent reasons to eat a bit of chocolate a couple times a week!  Isn’t it nice to have an excuse?

1) Dark Chocolate is Good for Your Heart

Studies show that eating a small amount of dark chocolate two or three times each week can help lower your blood pressure.  Dark chocolate improves blood flow and may help prevent the formation of blood clots.  Eating dark chocolate may also prevent arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

2) Dark Chocolate is Good for Your Brain

Dark chocolate increases blood flow to the brain as well as to the heart, so it can help improve cognitive function.  Dark chocolate also helps reduce your risk of stroke.

Dark chocolate also contains several chemical compounds that have a positive effect on your mood and cognitive health.  Chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), the same chemical your brain creates when you feel like you're falling in love.  PEA encourages your brain to release endorphins, so eating dark chocolate will make you feel happier.

Dark chocolate also contains caffeine, a mild stimulant.  However, dark chocolate contains much less caffeine than coffee. A 1.5 ounce bar of dark chocolate contains 27 mg of caffeine, compared to the 200 mg found in an eight ounce cup of coffee.

3) Dark Chocolate Helps Control Blood Sugar

Dark chocolate helps keep your blood vessels healthy and your circulation unimpaired to protect against type 2 diabetes.  The flavonoids in dark chocolate also help reduce insulin resistance by helping your cells to function normally and regain the ability to use your body's insulin efficiently.  Dark chocolate also has a low glycemic index, meaning it won't cause huge spikes in blood sugar levels.

4) Dark Chocolate is Full of Antioxidants

Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants.  Antioxidants help free your body of free radicals, which cause oxidative damage to cells.  Free radicals are implicated in the aging process and may be a cause of cancer, so eating antioxidant rich foods like dark chocolate can protect you from many types of cancer and slow the signs of aging.

5) Dark Chocolate is High in Vitamins and Minerals

Dark chocolate contains a number of vitamins and minerals that can support your health.  Dark chocolate contains some of the following vitamins and minerals in high concentrations:

• Potassium
• Copper
• Magnesium
• Iron

The copper and potassium in dark chocolate help prevent against stroke and cardiovascular ailments.  The iron in chocolate protects against iron deficiency anemia, and the magnesium in chocolate helps prevent type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.


Okay, okay... we know most of our goodies are much more about the sweet and less about the health.  But, like all things, chocolate anything is great in moderation!  And we're excited to show you a couple of yummy indulgences.  Check back throughout the week to see some of our favorite cocoa creations!