How Dark Chocolate is Good for the Body…and Maybe Even your Finances!

Welcome back guest blogger Tam John, Certified Nutritionist! In honor of Valentine’s Day, I asked her to tell us the scientific benefits of dark chocolate.

From Tam John:

Imagine indulging in amazing food while keeping your wellness factors of looking great and feeling great. This is the basis of Personalized Nutrition.Here are my top 5 reasons to augment your healthy regimen with a little dark chocolate every now and then. After all, food is meant to bring you pleasure.

Antioxidant & Flavonoid rich

Antioxidants fight free radicals which cause cellular havoc. Flavonoids also support cardiovascular and nervous system health. Studies suggest they may be anti-cancer and improve cognitive function. You should get most of your flavonoid rich free radical fighting anti-oxidants from fresh, seasonal whole fruits and veggies, nuts, grains, seeds, green and black tea.

Magnesium powerhouse

Magnesium is a necessary mineral that supports cardiovascular health and muscular relaxation.

Good for overall cholesterol profile

Cocoa butter in dark chocolate contains polyphenols said to be involved in cholesterol control; and increased HDL (good) cholesterol.

Small quantities support healthy blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Dark chocolate is an aphrodisiac

It contains tryptophan, a building block of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin; and phenylethylamine, a stimulant related to amphetamine, which is released in the brain when people fall in love.

Choose the highest levels (70% is a good target) of cacao which totes the most benefit of dark chocolate. As with all good things, moderation makes us appreciate them more. Appreciation begs great benefits. Savor each and every decadent bite, if it appeals to you, and indulge in a little dark chocolate now and then. Like I always say: Buy the best dark chocolate you can afford! After all, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!

Tamara’s new book title: A Fresh Wellness Mindset: Personalize Your Food Life & Find Your Truth about Gluten is now available on Amazon , through Tamara… and coming soon to retailers. The book addresses two trending topics in health & wellness: Personalized Nutrition (because one diet isn’t right for everyone and not all ‘healthy’ food is healthful for everyone); and how to navigate the Gluten Free Movement (easily live life free of gluten if needed/wanted) and reintroduce gluten or other once distressful foods healthfully. Because Wellness is True Happiness ™ www.TamJohn.com

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent disease. This article has not been reviewed by the FDA. Always consult with your primary care Physician or Naturopathic Doctor before making any significant changes to your health and wellness routine.

But how could chocolate help my finances?

Okay, so Tam has you convinced that eating dark chocolate is good for your health. Would you like to put your money where your mouth is? Keeping in mind this is NOT stock trading advice, here are a few ideas for investing in chocolate.

First, you could buy stock in some publicly traded chocolate names. Hershey (HSY), Tootsie Roll Industries (TR), Mondelez International (MDLZ), and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (RMCF) can all be purchased in your online brokerage account. If you are going to trade individual stocks, you should research the company and decide what your buy price and sell price is before purchasing.

You could also use an Exchange Traded Note that tracks the commodities futures of cacao. The iPath Pure Beta Cocoa (CHOC) and IPath Bloomberg Cocoa Subindex Total Return (NIB) both track the prices of cacoa. These are VERY volatile and illiquid investments (meaning the prices swing up and down drastically and there aren’t always willing buyers when you want to sell), so tread carefully.

Any of these investment ideas, just like eating Valentine’s Day candy, should be done in small, well-thought-out quantities, if at all.

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Kristi Sullivan

My name is Kristi Sullivan and I have been helping people achieve financial security since 1996. I am a fee-only financial planner and public speaker. I do no investment or insurance sales for commissions. My clients pay me for guidance through their financial questions. I also work with employers to educate their employees about personal finance. I have been helping people make financial decisions for 18 years. I have worked in employee benefits and with individual clients/families. I hold the Certified Financial Planner designation. Sullivan Financial Planning, LLC is a Registered Investment Advisory firm with the State of Colorado. Areas of expertise include prioritizing savings goals, investment allocation, and wealth manager searches.