6. Eat Chocolate
Everyone loves a piece of chocolate. The good news is that some chocolate in moderation is not so bad for you after all. Chocolate is a powerful antioxidant which helps to build HDL cholesterol levels. This ‘good’ cholesterol does wonders in controlling levels of LDL. Studies have shown that ingesting cocoa powder can increase levels of beneficial blood components by as much as 24 percent over a 12-week period.
Researchers have advised choosing dark or bittersweet chocolate. This contains three times as many antioxidants as the milk chocolate variety. These antioxidants prevent blood platelets from sticking together and may even keep arteries unclogged.
The great thing about chocolate is there doesn’t need to be too much speculation as to how to include it in one’s diet. A hearty cup of cocoa before bedtime, sweetened with honey, and spiced with cinnamon, might be just the thing your body and soul needs.