Chocolate is a craving many of us know all too well.
The question isn't
if we'll give in and have chocolate—it's whether we'll
opt for ice cream, cookies, or candy bars to satisfy the desire.
But while you might think of
chocolate as a guilty indulgence, there's some evidence that this sweet
treat could have potential health benefits.
And now, new insight from the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is lending even more credence to the
idea that chocolate may even play a role in reducing your risk of heart
disease.
People have been consuming more chocolate in
recent years.
A 2021 survey from Cargill's North American Cocoa and
Chocolate team found that consumption was on the rise, Food Navigator reported.
Researchers surveyed 600 U.S. grocery shoppers
and found that around one-third of consumers admitted they had increased their
chocolate consumption as a result of the pandemic.
The National Confectioners Association (NCA)
also reported that grocery sales for chocolate were up by 17.9 percent in the
past year, according to the news outlet.
We know U.S. consumers are
becoming increasingly interested in how the foods they love impact both
environmental and personal health
We now know that, in
combination with a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, consumption of cocoa flavones
in high flavone cocoa powder may help support cardiovascular health.
