“Candy” ingredient HALTS heart disease

If you’re anything like me, today you realize you probably bought too much Halloween candy for yesterday’s army of trick-or-treaters.

And if you’re also like me, you don’t need that stuff laying around the house!

But as tempting as that candy may be for all the WRONG reasons…

What if I told you that there is a specific “candy” ingredient that could work wonders for your heart… including lowering your risk of heart disease?!

But this one isn’t going to be found in your Halloween scraps.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that incorporating cocoa into your diet lead to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease-related death.

Yep, the same cocoa that’s used to make chocolate!

But don’t go diving into those Halloween leftovers just yet…

This cocoa isn’t found in your average Kit-Kat or Twix candy bar.

It’s the flavanols unique to the cocoa bean – specifically epicatechin.

The study of over 21,000 adults found that those who consumed 500 mg of cocoa flavanols a day reduced their risk of cardiovascular death by 27%.

Again, it’s important to remember that these findings are specific to cocoa beans.

But dark chocolate (which is made from the seed of the cocoa tree) is LOADED with antioxidants and nutrients that can also positively affect your heart.

In fact, one study found that eating dark chocolate more than five times per week lowered the risk of heart disease by 57%!

When I shop for dark chocolate, I always opt for the quality stuff. It contains less sugar and provides the most brain-boosting bang for your buck.

Read the label to make sure it has at least 70% (or higher) cocoa content. That will ensure you’re getting the proper amount of flavanols from the cocoa beans.

Or, see if your kids (or grandkids) scored some dark chocolate in their Halloween goodies.

Just remember, dark chocolate is still very calorie-dense, so be sure to stick to the serving size listed on the label.

Here’s to a sweeter heart,
Sarah Reagan

Sources:

Manaker, Lauren. “Cocoa Supplements Could Help Your Heart, Study Shows.” https://www.verywellhealth.com/cocoa-flavanols-heart-health-5272118

Gunnars, Kris. “7 Proven Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate.” https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate