Chocolate: Casanova’s Sensual Secret
By Carly Young, LifeScript Staff Writer
Giacomo Casanova, the world’s most famous lover, had a secret weapon: chocolate. He savored it before every romantic escapade, even drinking a mug of rich cocoa right before lovemaking. While the ultimate ladies’ man knew of chocolate’s aphrodisiacal powers, he probably didn’t know that eating it helped his health, too. So, go ahead, indulge in this decadent dessert…and give your libido a lift in time for Valentine’s Day. Plus: Test your chocolate IQ…
The Heart of the Matter
You’ve probably noticed a newcomer on the superfoods list: dark chocolate. That’s right – this delicious treat is good for you! “This is the best nutrition news to come out in years,” says Janet Bond Brill, Ph.D., R.D., and author of Cholesterol Down: Ten Simple Steps to Lower Your Cholesterol in Four Weeks – Without Prescription Drugs (Three Rivers Press, 2006).
Dark chocolate contains a higher percentage of cocoa than milk chocolate. Cocoa is high in flavonoids, which contain a host of health benefits.
“Flavonoids work as antioxidants to protect us from free radical damage,” explains Joe Vinson, Ph.D., professor of chemistry at the University of Scranton.
They also prevent oxidation of LDL or bad cholesterol, thus preventing plaque buildup, says Brill. And she has good news for diabetics: Flavonoids improve insulin sensitivity.
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