February 07, 2012
picture of dark chocolates in a red heart containerAlright, Connected Chiropractic can't present you a piece of chocolate via the computer, but we do have the power to share some of its perks with you.

Predominantly, chocolate is good for you, especially the dark chocolate kind. Honest! Could that be why 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold for Valentine's Day? (1) Probably not, but your Elgin chiropractor hopes you get one full of dark chocolates!

Chocolate and its primary ingredient, cocoa, have advantageous results for your heart, mind and body.

  • Cocoa has roughly 4 times greater antioxidant capacity than green tea and twice that of red wine. (2) The anti-oxidant flavanols found in cocoa beans reduce cell damage in heart disease and help reduce blood pressure. (4,6)
  • Moderate (not too much!) consumption of dark chocolate offers blood pressure lowering effects and anti-inflammatory activity. (3,6)
  • The anti-oxidants and the bigger magnesium content in dark chocolate may help with constipation problems and even speed up bowel movements! (2,5) We chiropractors know that constipation when you have back pain isn't good!

These conclusions are why Connected Chiropractic can accept the enjoyment of dark chocolate...in moderation, of course. Mood, memory, brain function, heart, immune system and stress reduction may all benefit as well. (2) Whose day isn't made better with a piece of chocolate?!

Connected Chiropractic knows that not all nutrition has to be in pill form or even boring food form. Check out these articles, then chat with us about the viability of adding some dark chocolate to your life at your next Elgin chiropractic visit. Contact us now to set that up before all the chocolate hearts start arriving!