As we get deeper into the first month of the new year, the natural question we ask others and ourselves is “what is your New Year’s resolution? Of the top ten New Year’s resolutions of Americans, according to statisticbrain.com, number four and five are “Enjoy Life to the Fullest” and “Stay Fit and Healthy” respectively. Americans seem intent on improving mental wellbeing, including thinking positively, laughing more, and enjoying life, and at the same time getting physically healthier, including reducing the signs of aging and decreasing the risk for cancer.
If only there was one thing, a magic ingredient, that can help achieve both mental and physical wellness goals. Could such an elixir actually exist?
The short answer is a resounding “Yes!”
Dark chocolate has recently been discovered to have a number of health benefits—both physical and mental. The basic ingredients of dark chocolate include cacao beans containing resveratrol, an antioxidant also found in red wine. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which are destructive molecules that are implicated in heart disease and other ailments. Free radicals are implicated in the aging process and may also be a cause of cancer, so eating antioxidant rich foods like dark chocolate can protect you from many types of cancer and slow the signs of aging.
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