Most people have heard or read articles about the possibility of delicious treats like red wine and even chocolate having health benefits. However, it is important to remember that you shouldn’t always believe everything you hear. While there are certainly some surprising health benefits to consuming both chocolate and red wine, don’t indulge in a free for all every night before bed. Read on for some of the many health benefits of red wine and chocolate as well as the drawbacks and caveats of both.
Health Benefits of Red Wine
Red wine contains both flavonoids and resveratrol, two substances that can do wonders for the human body. Flavonoids are antioxidants that work in the body to reduce the LDL, or the bad cholesterol, while simultaneously increasing the body’s stores of HDL, or healthy cholesterol. In addition, flavonoids have been shown in some studies to be beneficial to the heart, circulation system and in some cases even to prevent cancer. Red wine also contains resveratrol, another antioxidant that can help to increase nerve growth within the human body.
Drawbacks of Red Wine
Although red wine certainly has many benefits, there are some caveats to keep in mind. Sipping a glass of Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon each night with dinner can have these incredible health benefits, but sipping white wine has few, if any, noticeable health advantages. In addition, it is important to keep in mind that these studies do not show the disadvantages of drinking too much of any alcohol. Consuming a bottle of red wine on a regular basis, for example, can lead to chronic dehydration, migraines, kidney and liver problems and even alcohol addiction. Limit your red wine consumption to just one glass each day in order to reap the health benefits without any of the drawbacks.
Health Benefits of Chocolate
Just like red wine, dark chocolate contains resveratrol and flavonoids that can have incredible health benefits for the human body. In addition, chocolate with a cocoa percentage higher than 70 can help to reduce blood sugar, stabilizing the mood of the consumer and helping to prevent diabetes. Surprisingly, you don’t have to stick to a square of the delicious brown confection if you don’t want to. Enjoy hot chocolate made with dark cocoa or even a dark chocolate soufflé for something tasty that can benefit your body as well.
Drawbacks of Chocolate
Unfortunately, there are several caveats to keep in mind when it comes to the health benefits of chocolate. First, not all chocolates contain these miracle ingredients. White chocolate, for example, has no cocoa at all, even milk chocolate has very few antioxidants, and only dark chocolates with a cocoa percentage higher than 70 will have health benefits upon consumption. In addition, eating large quantities of dark chocolate can lead to weight gain, which brings with it a host of negative health connotations.
Since tasty treats like red wine and dark chocolate contain key ingredients that can help the body, enjoy both in your daily life. However, remember to limit consumption and practice moderation with these foods for optimum benefits.
Carol Weber, who writes for health and food blogs, suggests checking out http://www.accessrx.com to find answers to questions about your health, safety and is it safe to buy from Canadian online pharmacies?
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