Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

And You Can Let Go of the Guilt This Year!

     Ok, so we all know that candy is not one of the best things for you, but when you live every day making healthy choices for your body, it is perfectly all right to have a night to enjoy some indulgences - guilt free. I always preach the 80-20 rule: 80% of the time, make the good decision for yourself, but 20% of the time, indulge! None of us can be perfect, and what fun would that be anyway? It is HEALTHY to indulge every now and then, when it can be kept in perspective and under control. 

     On a similar note, I felt like today may be a good day to discuss the health benefits of chocolate, since we all may be consuming at least a piece or two today. 

     Chocolate, in it's raw, natural form, is full of antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals and helps the body repair itself. There are several studies that show that a small bit of dark chocolate each day can reduce the risk of death by heart attack by 50% (By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD WebMD Weight Loss Clinic - Expert Column). 

     Now don't get too excited, this does not mean that you can have your precious Reese's Pieces every day. It is important to keep the chocolate as unprocessed and simple as possible. Pure, dark chocolate has the highest concentration of these fantastic antioxidants. So, a piece or two of pure chocolate is perfectly acceptable to enjoy on a regular basis if you love it as much as I do!