Enjoy National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

If you love chocolate, this day dedicated to bittersweet chocolate with almonds is just for you 🙂

November 7 is National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day. Now I love chocolate, especially dark chocolate. Knowing that eating dark chocolate as well as almonds can have heart healthy benefits makes it that much better. Don’t you agree? So how can eating chocolate and almonds be good for your heart? Here’s how.

Heart Healthy Benefits of Chocolate

There are antioxidants in chocolate called flavanols. These antioxidants help protect your cells from damage, and help with repair. Flavanols in chocolate may also help lower your blood pressure and improve the blood flow to your heart. The best type of chocolate is dark or bittersweet. It is less processed and retains more of the flavanols. Although chocolate with 50% cocoa has been found to have benefits, the more cocoa, the better. Try to get chocolate with at least 70% cocoa if you can, and try not to go overboard. Just 3 ounces (85g) of chocolate can have up to 450 calories, so you’ll want to savor a smaller portion. Whatever you do, make sure to plan for the calories you are taking in for the day.

Heart Healthy Benefits of Almonds

When you eat almonds as part of a heart healthy diet, you can lower the LDL or “bad cholesterol” in your blood. A high level of LDL cholesterol  is a primary cause of heart disease. Almonds have monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are healthy fats thought to lower bad cholesterol. Almonds contain fiber, which also helps lower your cholesterol. Fiber helps improve blood flow as well.

Indulge yourself with a little chocolate and almond love. And if you love chocolate and the added health benefits, share this on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,  and your other favorite ways to share with friends and family.

Here’s to your health 🙂
All the Best,