My love for chocolate is no secret. Sure, I eat healthy, workout a lot and enjoy rewarding myself with a little chocolate on most days. (In case you missed my recent chocolate cherry protein muffins recipe find it here) My reasoning goes something like this:
We all are motivated by something.
I see t shirts about running for beer or wine or pizza even. Sure I love the feeling of a great sweaty run, the exhaustion of a hilly bike ride and the fatigue after a kick boxing class and those feelings definitely motivate me to exercise. I also love to reward myself with a little chocolate everyday.
I recently came across a study “Debunking the myths of chocolate”. Turns out chocolate might not be only thought of as a treasured reward but may have some health benefits as well. In honor of National Chocolate Day (yup that is a real day), Dr. Catherine Kwik-Uribe, human health and nutrition director at Mars, Incorporated, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of chocolate, is separating fact from fiction and dispelling common chocolate-y myths once and for all. Take a look for yourself and see what you think.
(The following info was provided to me from Mars, Inc)
- MYTH: Chocolate contains powerful antioxidants.
FACT: Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, contains cocoa flavanols, phytonutrients which science supports have a proven positive impact on health. However, contrary to popular belief, cocoa flavanols are not antioxidants. Based on work done in test tubes, early research suggested the flavanols may act as antioxidants in the body. Today we know that this is not true – that in fact, the benefits of cocoa flavanols to human health are due to their ability to directly influence the function and overall health of blood vessels.
- MYTH: Chocolate is good for your heart.
FACT: Chocolate can be part of a healthy diet, but it is not a health food. Even if a chocolate is high in cocoa flavanols, the calories, fat, and sugar in chocolate make chocolate an occasional indulgence. A significant body of published scientific research has proven that cocoa flavanols support a healthy heart by promoting healthy blood flow. Consumption of cocoa supports the body’s production of nitric oxide, a compound produced naturally within the body that triggers blood vessels to relax, enabling the smooth flow of blood. This ability of blood vessels to relax is scientifically recognized as a marker of the health of the cardiovascular system.
As chocolate is an occasional treat, one of the most efficient ways to get a daily serving of cocoa flavanols is through a product like CocoaVia®, a daily cocoa extract supplement that leverages the Cocoapro® process to preserve the flavanols naturally present.
- MYTH: Chocolate containing 70% cacao or greater is good for you.
FACT: While a percentage of cacao as high as seventy percent is likely to contain more cocoa flavanols than a traditional dark chocolate bar, the percentage of cacao is not a reliable indicator of a product’s cocoa flavanol content. Further, chocolate as an energy-dense food with fat and sugar should be enjoyed in moderation as an occasional treat. Unless the packaging indicates the cocoa flavanol content or Cocoapro® brand, there is no way to determine if you are receiving the benefits of this powerful plant-based bioactive.
- MYTH: Chocolate is high in caffeine.
FACT: Chocolate does contain caffeine, but an average 1 oz. serving of dark chocolate contains less than half the amount of caffeine found in an average cup of black tea. The amount of caffeine in chocolate is in proportion to the percentage of cacao in the product, thus milk chocolate contains less caffeine than a semi-sweet or dark chocolate.
According to Kwik-Uribe, “It’s important to remember that despite the chocolate-y rumors, chocolate is a wonderful, but occasional treat that can be part of a balanced, healthy diet. Cocoa flavanols are found in chocolate, but the amount of chocolate that has to be consumed to achieve the level of intake shown to exert benefits will generally be far above a ‘healthy’ amount of chocolate. CocoaVia® daily cocoa extract supplement is a convenient way to include cocoa flavanols in your diet every day. ”
I am not really sure what they mean by “occasional”?
(Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Cocoavia & Communications however my love of chocolate is my own)
Tell me-What do you run for? How do you reward yourself?
I enjoy chocolate, too. Although my cravings tend to be more baked good variety than solid chocolate: cake, brownies, cookies. Anything in moderation, right?
absolutely!
Everyday is national chocolate day for me!
LOL! It should be 🙂
Yep! I love a square of dark chocolate as dessert!!
Me too! Just a little everyday works for me
I run for ice cream! Usually chocolate ice cream 🙂
Well that works too!
I run for endorphins! But I do love chocolate. One of my favorite post run treats/rewards it a chocolate protein shake.
Endorphins yes for sure!
I run for coffee…iced white CHOCOLATE mocha (with half the syrup and no whip)! Chocolate cake is always a special treat around my house too.
Coffee is a must but I consider it more of a necessity 🙂
I think I was just inspired to go grab a chocolate bar for lunch : ) I usually have a handful of dark chocolate pomegranate seeds for a mid afternoon pick me up which is definitely a treat. But if I’m going all out, I either reward myself with a big ol’ cup of froyo or a nice piece of red velvet cake. !
ooh I haven’t had choc covered pom seeds! Need to check those out. Double healthy right?
There was definitely a time in my life when I was a fiend for chocolate but recently I tend to be gravitating more toward savory treats. And I’ve probably been treating myself a bit too much 🙂 I love the train of thought comparing chocolate to salad.
It makes total sense doesn’t it?!
mmmm dark chocolate is so good! I love being able to have a nice big smoothie after a run, but I also like to reward myself with fun new things if I stick to my training plan for a certain amount of time. Like new shoes 🙂
New shoes are great motivation as well!
I actually am not a big fan of chocolate. I’d rather indulge in a glass of wine and some cheese and crackers after a long run. I guess whatever motivates you. We all have our reasons to run:)
We all do indeed! I like a good cheese and cracker plate too
How very interesting! I thought cocoa contained anitoxidants! Love this article and your having debunked the myths… yep, BIG chocolate fan here.
I found it really interesting as well!
I will run for chocolate as well and cupcakes and Swedish fish lol!
ooh I do love those Swedish fish!
I love chocolate as well! Always puts me in a good mood 🙂
Yes I need a bit everyday!
Ahhhh chococlate 🙂 I was always semi jealous of people who would claim that the caffeine in chocolate would “keep them up”. I’m so overly tolerant to caffeine, it almost doesn’t affect me at all (and that can be a bummer sometimes!)
I don’t feel the caffeine from chocolate either but I “need” a little bit everyday just to keep me going
I run for ice cream. The more ice cream the better, though that means I need to run a lot more too!
Ice cream works too!
I believe that daily doses of dark chocolate are an essential part of a healthy diet!
I am right there with you!
Love this post! And loved that muffin post too. Chocolate is definitly a motivators. As is frozen yogurt and I usually head straight to get an iced coffee with a little bit of mocha (aka chocolate) in it after a good workout at the box. Thanks for the fun facts. Maybe we could partner up one week for my twitter chat #fitmyth and talk all about chocolate!
ok now you are making me hungry! Sure would love to partner up sometime I have a crazy few weeks getting my daughter ready for college but after that I am in!
I definitely run for my love of sweets. Dark chocolate is my favorite!
Yes it’s pretty good!
Oh I’ll run for CHOCOLATE, and ice cream, and peanut butter!!!!!
Sounds good tome!
You just made me feel better about the chocolate chip cookie I ate! I know, I know I stopped at Panera Bread, just finished fit camp and I ordered the garden veggie soup. I get to the check out and you know what happens, you have a free pastry that expires tomorrow , want to take a cookie with you? Duh??? and free ! and now I feel no guilt, thank you for making my day 🙂 We all know I really run for wine!
You can’t let a free cookie coupon go to waste can you?
I do love a little dark chocolate now and again, but ice cream is my big indulgence 🙂
I haven’t had really good ice cream in a while hmm may need to go get some-after I run of course!
I love chocolate. Seriously, I have to have it every day in some form whether it’s a glass of chocolate almond milk or a dark chocolate bar 🙂
Glad I am not the only one!
I definitely can’t live without chocolate. I’m glad I made the switch from Milk to Dark Chocolate. It’s my Energizer so to speak! Best afternoon pick-me up. Even before a run, when you feel slightly tired, a small piece of dark chocolate can give you some much needed energy without leaving you weighed down.
Can’t argue with that!
Thanks for debunking the myths about chocolate and allowing me to enjoy chocolate at a healthy diet!
my pleasure! 🙂 Enjoy
I’ve got a sweet tooth so I run so I can eat them! (Usually ice cream or cookies, love chocolate as well!) 🙂
I haven’t had good ice cream in a while!
I think it’s kind of obvious. 🙂
Often I have greek yogurt or a protein bar after a run. Sometimes the thought of a chocolate covered protein bar waiting for me gets me through the run.
Sometimes it’s a picky bar, which usually has chocolate in it.
Once in a while it’s ice cream. And it has to have chocolate in it. Which is why the dogs only ever get ice cream from my husband.
Chocolate is for sure my number one treat then pizza :0 Oooh now I want chocolate pizza
Interesting read! I did my thesis on the cardiovascular effects of dark chocolate back in 2010. What research article did you get for the evidence to myth #3. I want to read that. All of the information when I did my research was that 70% cacao or higher was needed for health benefits. I finally started this week and I run for dark chocolate, ice cream and nut butters 🙂
That is interesting! I received this info from the Mars company directly but I can try to get a link to the original source for you. Thanks for asking.
Mmm love me some chocolate! But I am quite the vanilla person 🙂 I’d rather have chocolate, if it’s surrounded by something like cookie dough or in some vanilla ice cream haha. Great post! Thanks for debunking some myths 🙂
cookie dough is amazing and doesn’t count right?!
Crazy for the dark chocolate. Yes, yes!! We need to enjoy our lives and I want chocolate 🙂
It’s been tough, since I’m not running, I try to limit my intake of desserts (so hard) – but a little piece of dark chocolate is heaven (not a fan at ALL of milk chocolate).
Oh I know it is! You are going to be back before you know it!
I enjoy running with my kids so basically I run for great bonding moments, for fun and better health in general. :)) But running for precious rewards like chocolates are indeed a great motivation too. 😉 Thanks for that great info on chocolate myths by the way. Great read! 🙂
It’s great that you love to run with your kids! Thanks for stopping by today