There are few foods that we have a greater emotional attachment to than chocolate. Full of flavonoids, flavonols and antioxidants, dark chocolate encourages the production of endorphins and serotonin, chemicals in the brain that are both associated with making us feel good.
But not only does eating chocolate help our mood, it also offers up some notable benefits for our health. The flavonols found in chocolate are thought to help improve cognitive function, while chocolate is also associated with heart health and possibly lowering our risk for heart disease. A recent clinical trial conducted by researchers from the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra in Portugal and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, linked eating dark chocolate to improvement of several markers of cardiovascular health. And the list is long of studies with similar findings.
So where to dig in? The usual rule of thumb is that the higher the percentage of cacao in the chocolate, or the darker the chocolate, the better it is for you. But whatever your preference, one thing is for sure: it all tastes good! Here are some of the latest New Hope Network-approved chocolate offerings on the market.
