An Apple a day...dipped in Chocolate

"An Apple a day keeps that doctor away." How many times have you heard this growing up? It's a popular saying, but have you ever asked why? 


Apples have a similar effect on our emotions as chocolate does. Doctors Macht M and Dettmer D concluded, in their research of the two foods, that "Both chocolate and the apple reduced hunger, elevated mood and increased activation" 

Did you know that apples can help increase you're heart's health? Apples have natural antioxidants and phytochemicals which can help your body stay healthy in more ways than one. Writer Ethan A. Huff cited a study that suggest that apples can reduce heart disease, benefit digestion, and have "triterpenoid compounds that prevent cancer cells from forming."

Now, did you know that chocolate can also help you're health? Eating chocolate can reduce diabetes risk and stroke risk. 

Now before you rush to the store and buy all the Dove chocolate available, go back to my first post. Remember? Sugar and many replacement sweeteners can be bad for you. It's not really the chocolate that's good for you.

"What? You just lied to me?" Well, eating chocolate with lots of sugar can hurt your health instead of help. What you really want is the cocoa: eat dark chocolate.

Because most of us have grown up eating sweet treats and avoided bitter, but you want to chose chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa. There are only a few people who may be able to manage eating 90% cocoa bars. My favorite chocolate bar is 72% cocoa with raspberries. 

If you want to know about additional benefits of eating chocolate there are numerous studies to read. One informational website is by thesis. One article about apples is Apples Good for Your Heart.