It’s getting cold outside as fall is already here and winter is quickly approaching. It’s that time of the year you normally start switching from cold refreshing beverages to hot smooth beverages such as coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

Hot chocolate or hot cocoa is consumed throughout the world and comes in multiple variations including the very thick Italian cioccolata densa, and the thinner hot cocoa that is typically consumed in the United States.

Many people stay away from hot chocolate because the beverage is labeled unhealthy due to the high fat and sugar content in certain types of hot chocolate. However, hot chocolate should not be considered unhealthy and can be positive to one’s health. A study conducted by Cornell University has shown that hot chocolate contains more antioxidants than wine and tea, therefore reducing the risk of heart disease. In a single serving of cocoa, the 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 is your source for healthy hot chocolate this fall with an incredible selection on healthy hot cocoa mixes at discounted prices.

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