How some Halloween treats can hide health benefits

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – It’s a Halloween tradition: chunks of bright milk chocolate with familiar brand names, all loaded with sugar. So we wanted to find out what’s in this healthy dark chocolate, and enlisted the help of Crystal Goodman, a local nutritionist, trainer, and popular Orangetheory trainer.

Her favorite is a dark chocolate bar with minimal ingredients. For example, Hu chocolate bars contain 70% cocoa. Look for dark chocolate that contains up to 85 percent raw, unprocessed cacao, Goodman says.

There are six benefits of dark chocolate:

1. Heart health

“You’ve probably also heard a little red wine here and there is great for the heart,” Goodman said. “The same thing. It (dark chocolate) contains these antioxidants. It’s the flavonoids in the plant that will give you antioxidants that fight free radicals and help you with your heart health and all that stuff.”

2. Brain function

“It can actually increase blood flow to the brain, and it can help with memory and just being ‘on’ and having a clear mind instead of the brain fog that many of us can have,” Goodman said.

3. Mood

“Definitely, I think as women, we can all say that sometimes during the month we like that chocolate because it really helps lift our spirits,” Goodman added.

4. Skin

“These antioxidants are great for the skin, and things like vitamin C, vitamin E, they can all be in these chocolates. They will make the skin more alive, and we will feel and look younger,” explained Goodman.

5. Minerals

Dark chocolate is rich in iron, magnesium and zinc to support your bones and help you sleep

6. Hypertension

As part of heart health, the flavonoids in dark chocolate can help control blood pressure.

With all these benefits, there is really only one message: “Eat dark chocolate. Have fun on Halloween, enjoy those sweets, just in moderation!”

Be sure to read the labels. Even candies marketed as dark chocolate can have milk chocolate in them. When checking, look for fewer ingredients and candies that contain between 70% and 85% cocoa, and don’t forget to check the serving size.

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