Are Chocolate and Honey Healthy Foods? Amy Smith, October 27, 2021October 26, 2021 Are Chocolate and Honey Healthy Foods? People who focus on good health needn’t sacrifice sweet foods like chocolate and honey. Each has surprising health benefits. There are literally thousands of naturally healthy foods, which can nurture a family’s good health. Eating healthy involves reading the labels on food products purchased and being aware of the side effects of additives used in processing these foods. It also involves having an awareness of the benefits of eating fresh, natural ingredients. Some may believe that regularly preparing healthy foods means designing an expensive or boring diet and that it means saying goodbye to sweets for good. However, there are healthy foods that are tasty, sweet, and fun to eat, such as chocolate and honey. The Health Benefits of Chocolate As a sweet treat, chocolate is sometimes needlessly avoided in healthy diets. The truth is that it has health benefits that are seldom celebrated, yet nevertheless quite nutritious. After all, the main ingredient in this delectable treat comes from the Theobroma cacao tree and it is considered a plant-based food. It is also naturally high in the following minerals and other nutrients, such as: flavonoids (which prevent blood platelets from becoming sticky) arginine (an amino acid) magnesium (a mineral that helps support healthy nerves and muscle functioning) polyphenols (which support this treat’s rich antioxidant properties) Included in these health benefits are several alarming facts. For instance, who knew that chocolate has as many as eight times the incredible antioxidant strength that strawberries do? Or that it is considered a heart-healthy food? It should be noted, however, that raw and dark varieties have more of a health benefit than does milk chocolate. Also, syrups and powdered drink mixes do not contain the health benefits that plain chocolate does due to the ways in which they are processed. Finally, consuming large amounts of this amazing food can have an adverse effect, as it is high in sugar and calories. Therefore, it should be enjoyed, but in very small doses and as close to its raw form as possible. The Health Benefits of Honey While, ounce per ounce, honey has slightly more calories in it than sugar does, it is also sweeter than sugar is and, therefore, less of it is needed when used as a sweetener. This is why it is so popular as a sugar substitute in some weight-loss diets. In comparing the nutritional value of both, honey is also the clear winner. Regular table sugar simply does not provide any nutritional value, as it does not contain any of the minerals or vitamins necessary to do so. At the same time, sugar contributes to a rise in unhealthy cholesterol, while honey does not. Honey also acts as an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral force. In its natural state, this food contains antioxidants, fiber, calcium, folate, potassium, phosphorus, and a host of other vitamins and minerals that are important to optimal health. Raw, unprocessed varieties contain phenylmethyl caffeate, caffeic acid methyl caffeate, and Phenethyl Dimethyl Caffeate, which are all phytonutrients believed to be strong anti-tumor and anti-cancer agents. Other health benefits inherent in this golden treat are: It can help soothe a cough. It can be used to metabolize blood glucose. It may improve insulin sensitivity in diabetes patients. It strengthens the body’s natural immune system. It can be used to heal burns and wounds. Hippocrates, widely considered to be the founder of Western medicine, relied heavily on raw honey in treating patients with a variety of illnesses, as have others throughout history. Such a sweet-tasting healthy treat sounds almost too good to be true, but it truly is a delightful food that most everyone in the family will enjoy. Healthy foods are always a better alternative than junk foods. While it is a good idea to regard food as medicine or, at the very least, as a way of maintaining good health, this does not mean that it cannot still be enjoyed. Understanding the health benefits of chocolate and honey helps people satisfy occasional sweet cravings while avoiding the side effects of over-processed sugary desserts. Connect with My Four and More on Social Media! FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST Share on FacebookTweetFollow usSave Health ChocolateFoodhealthhoney