Women: Dark Chocolate is Good for You!

A professor at Hull York Medical School, Steve Atkin, has discovered that dark chocolate may actually not be all that bad for you. While still high in fat and calories, a daily dark chocolate intake can help reduce the symptoms of fatigue. It does this by improving the serotonin levels in your brain, according to the study performed by Atkin.

The study was created when one of Dr. Atkin’s patients told him that they felt better after substituting milk chocolate for dark chocolate that had a high percentage of cocoa. The study demonstrated that those who had dark chocolate as opposed to milk chocolate had fewer symptoms of fatigue. And, here’s the key point – after the study patients stopped eating chocolate, they had more symptoms of fatigue then those on chocolate.

In addition to the study, the Professor noted that the effects of less fatigue may be due in part to the high levels of polyphenols that were in the dark chocolate. These are chemical substances that are found in plants with antioxidant properties. Polyphenols may reduce the risk of diseases, including but not limited to cardiovascular disease and cancer.

With all this being said, dark chocolate still contains high fat and calories. As such, it shouldn’t be eaten in high doses if you strive to lose weight. Instead, try some other fruits and vegetables that contain high levels of phenols. This includes berries, tea, grapes, walnuts, and peanuts.