Amy's Nutrition Picks: Chocolate, a health food?

The purported health benefits of chocolate may come from the fact that it contains antioxidants similar to those found in fruits and vegetables. However, a lot is still unknown in this area, and these antioxidants may be lost during processing anyway. In a recent study that demonstrated the benefits of chocolate, participants had to eat 3.5 ounces of chocolate a day. At 500+ calories, that is an entire meal of chocolate! And as much as I would like to think of chocolate as a health food, do we really need an excuse to eat more candy?
For those with a sweet tooth, choose dark chocolate with more than 70% cocoa content. These high-quality chocolate bars can be expensive, but with all the recent hype about them, they always seem to be on sale. At Smiths, look for Lindt brand. Lindt has a bar with 70% cocoa content and one with 85% cocoa content. Health food stores carry a variety of other brands. Endangered Species Chocolate Company is one of my favorites because of the great taste and great packaging (they make a nice little gift). Dark chocolate is also a good snack for people with diabetes because it is low in total carbohydrates. It does contain saturated fat, so limit your intake to a ½ - 1 ounce serving. These bars are so rich that it's easy to practice savoring a small amount of a "healthy" dessert. Stop by my office on Tuesdays or Thursdays for a sample!

Amy Cain
Dietitian
(801) 476-2212
Appt. Scheduling 476-6760