As the weather gets cold, nothing says “fall season” like sipping hot chocolate. The fall is the traditional season for the switch from refreshing drinks to warm beverages and hot chocolate is one of the most popular choices. Hot chocolate, sometimes called hot cocoa, is available is several variations and can be considered a healthy beverage. Just stay away from unhealthy additional ingredients such as whipped cream, and try to use low fat milk. Hot chocolate is often labeled unhealthy due to the high fat and sugar content in certain types but there are many ways to create a low fat and low sugar delicious and healthy beverage.

In fact, hot chocolate can be positive to one’s health. According to studies, hot cocoa contains more antioxidants than wine and tea, and may help to reduce the risk of heart disease. In a single serving of cocoa, researchers found 611 milligrams of gallic acid equivalents (GAE) and 564 milligrams of epicatechin equivalents (ECE), compared with 340 milligrams of GAE and 163 milligrams of ECE in red wine, and 165 milligrams of GAE and 47 milligrams of ECE in green tea.

Additionally, the flavonoids found in the cocoa have a positive effect on arterial health. A particular study shows high amounts of improvement in blood flow after drinking a flavanol-rich cocoa beverage. Flavonols may also help vessels dilate and help keep platelets from clustering on the blood vessel walls and can balance levels of compounds called eicosanoids, which may be beneficial to cardiovascular health.

Lucky Vitamin offers several top quality brads of hot cocoa mixes at our always discounted prices.

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