Give Your Blood Pressure This Daily Treat

Just 30 calories per day of chocolate may be enough to help reduce your blood pressure. As far as serving sizes go, that’s about a Hershey’s Kiss worth.

But you have to eat the right kind of chocolate, according to Joseph Maroon, MD, author of The Longevity Factor. He recommends nonsweetened or minimally sweetened dark chocolate that’s at least 70 percent cocoa.

Crazy for Cocoa

Dark chocolate can also help reduce atherosclerosis and blood clotting, aid blood flow, contribute to an overall reduction in heart attacks, and improve cholesterol levels, according to Maroon. And it’s all thanks to the powerful antioxidants found in the cocoa bean. Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about this heart-smart treat.

More Good Reasons to Eat Chocolate

As if you need them . . . Maroon offers three more great reasons to indulge:

1.For better blood sugar. Chocolate enhances the effect of insulin and sugar utilization. Drop your blood sugar even further with this one painless click.
2.For a finer complexion. Yep, fewer wrinkles and fine lines. Here’s how you can help your skin with chocolate.
3.For a better mood. The taste isn’t the only reason it makes us smile. This is how you get happier with chocolate.

RealAge Benefit: Getting 31 milligrams of flavonoids a day -- like those found in chocolate -- can make your RealAge 3.2 years younger.

Courtesy of: RealAge online newsletter