Improve Health With Hot Cocoa!
Are you a hot cocoa fan? If you answered yes, Congrats! Not only can it help keep you warm, and bring back memories of a delightful childhood, it can also chase away the winter blues, stop embarrassing gas and keep your heart strong. Continue reading for the details...
The Cocoa Rxs:
1) Fight Dry Skin-
Winter weather wreaks havoc on your skin, mainly because there's less moisture in the air and your skin loses more water. You can overcome it with by drinking more water, just make a couple of those cups-hot cocoa.
2) Beat The Blues-
Exercise is one of the best ways to combat the winter blues, but you can maximize those effects with a cup of cocoa afterward. Cocoa contains a natural chemical that helps grow new nerve cells in the part of your brain responsible for memory. And reports show that the power of exercise to boost mood is intensified when these new nerve cells are present.
3) Lower Blood Pressure-
People with high blood pressure are more prone to heart attacks in cold weather. One way to prevent your pressure from rising too much? Hot Cocoa! Only 1 cup of hot cocoa is enough to lower blood pressure up to 4 points. Sound like a small number? It's not, a 4 point drop equals a 10% lower risk of having a winter heart attack. 2 cups equals 8 points.
4) Stop Gas Attacks-
Lactose Intolerance is an underlying flatulence trigger for millions of Americans. One sweet way to combat it? Switching from plain milk to chocolate milk or hot cocoa. Research shows that adding cocoa more than triples a person's ability to digest dairy. It speeds the breakdown and absorption of milk sugars in the stomach.
5) A Strong Heart-
A couple cups of hot chocolate a day will leave you 30% less likely to die of heart disease. Hot chocolate is full of heart protective antioxidants, that prevent the heart from being overstressed during arduos tasks like snow shoveling, lowering your risk of having a heart attack.
6) Important Reminders-
Now that you're armed with some interesting facts about the health benefits of cocoa, here are some other things to remember when adding it to your daily regimen.
a) Make it good quality cocoa.
b) Drink it without marshmallows- once in a blue moon is okay, but adding marshmallows every time you drink it takes away the healthful benefits. That also includes whipped cream, ice cream -etc.
c) Skip The Dessert- It's tempting to have that piece of pie or danish with your cocoa, but they're not good for your heart, blood pressure or waistline.
That's It- Some good reasons to add more cocoa to your life.
Good Luck!
JGib--
SupermarketRxs!
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