The good news is chocolate is Paleo. The bad news is not all chocolate is created equal. Hershey’s is not Paleo (it’s low-quality chocolate mixed with more milk and sugar than anything else). High-quality dark chocolate, on the other hand, definitely qualifies as a whole food with multiple health benefits.
Raw Is Better
When we talk about “high-quality” chocolate, we mean the stuff that has been minimally processed (preferably raw). As with most food, the more processing it’s been through, the more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants it’s lost.
The Health Benefits
The best part about chocolate is all those tasty antioxidants. It comes loaded with polyphenols and flavonols (different types of antioxidants) that have a number of noted health benefits, including protecting against heart disease and increasing insulin sensitivity.
Mark Sisson has several reasons to include chocolate as part of a healthy Paleo lifestyle.
