Food Synergy Series: Apples With Dark Chocolate
It’s not what you eat. It’s what you eat it with. This concept, known as ‘food synergy’, is taking the world by storm. What this means is, pair certain foods with certain others, to maximise their health and nutritional benefits.
One of these superfood combinations is apple and dark chocolate.
Apples, especially the red delicious ones, are rich in antioxidants known as quercetin. There are a number of benefits to that, which is why it is said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. These include:
- Suppresses allergies
- Anti-inflammatory
- Reduces the risk of heart attacks
- Reduces the risk of certain cancers
- Reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
- Improves lung function
Dark chocolate, on the other hand, contains catechins, the benefits of which include:
- Reduced risk of cancer
- Reduced risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries of the heart)
They both sound awesome individually, right? But when you pair the two, you get even bigger benefits. The combination of quercetin and catechin works to loosen blood platelets, which improves circulation, fights blood clots, and prevents the clogging of arteries, thus improving heart health and reducing the risk of heart disease.
Remember to eat the apples with the peel, as most of the quercetin is found in that. Not only is this combination sinful, helping you satisfy your sweet tooth, but it is amazingly healthy too! You can indulge every day if you want, but in moderation. You can also combine dark chocolate with raspberries, another rich source of quercetin.
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