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Cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolates is rich in antioxidant flavonoids known as flavanols. The more cocoa content in chocolates, the healthier they are. There are thousands of varieties of chocolates and the main difference being the flavor, ingredients and the source of ingredients. If you are very particular about your diet and concerned what you eat, then you should know that not all sugar free chocolates are healthy. There are exotic ones, expensive ones and cheap ones. However, the key is to buy those made of good quality and natural ingredients, after this you may consider the flavor that you like the most. Good Things That Cocoa Can Do Cocoa is basically derived from the cocoa plant and is used to make variety of food products. Several studies have shown that people who ate a diet rich in dark chocolate and cocoa powder had lower oxidation levels of bad LDL cholesterol, four percent higher levels of good HDL cholesterol and increased blood antioxidant level. It is proved that chocolate antioxidants keep blood platelets from clotting, trigger nitric oxide which helps keep arteries flexible and increase blood flow. Though chocolates are not consumed for medicinal purposes, when combined and consumed along with a balanced diet can provide you healthy results. You may also eat those with fruit or nuts for increased dose of antioxidants. Purchasing Chocolates When it comes to shopping for chocolates there are infinite number of options. Many manufacturers are giving a luxury twist to the humble cocoa by creating exotic flavors. Milk chocolates are made of milk or cream, chocolate liquor which is derived from cocoa beans, sugar and cocoa butter. Dark chocolates too are made of similar ingredients except that they don’t contain milk or cream. If you are looking to gain health benefits from chocolate antioxidants, then ideally you should purchase products that do not contain either milk or cream, as they may actually decrease the antioxidant activity. Things to Remember When Purchasing Chocolates Whether you want to purchase chocolates for your personal use or want to gift it to someone, always buy those that you will enjoy as well as gain some health benefits. As there are so many to choose from, here are some things you can keep in mind when shopping for sugar free chocolates. Always go for a good quality brand. Buy only fresh stock. Check what ingredients it contains and in what quantities. Stay away from those that contain artificial flavors and sweeteners. Know what storing condition is required. http://goarticles.com/article/Tips-for-Purchasing-Sugar-Free-Dark-Chocolate/7671814/
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