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Halloween candy may be good for you

Relaxnews
Friday 29 October 2010 00:00 BST
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Need a reason to eat candy? Unlikely. But if so, prominent US magazine Psychology Today offers a few good ones, just in time for Halloween. Turns out, candy may actually be good for you.

On October 25, Psychology Today's blog revealed some delicious benefits of eating candy based on scientific research.

Top four reasons to eat candy (in moderation):

  1. People who regularly eat candy live longer than those who don't. A multi-decade study from the Harvard School of Public Health showed people who indulged in eating candy a few times a month lived longer.
  2. A jolt of sugar restores willpower and improves focus, states a 2007 study from Florida State University.
  3. Chewing gum can enhance your mood, reduce stress, increase your mental focus, and block pain. A 2010 study discovered that chewing gum increases serotonin levels.
  4. Chocolate may decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease. The US-based National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute analyzed the chocolate habits almost 5,000 adults. Those who ate chocolate five or more times a week were 60 percent less likely to have heart disease. Plus a German study, published in the European Heart Journal, found that modest chocolate intake had a significant effect on people's blood pressure.

"Don't have endless amounts, but one to three pieces" of candy on Halloween night isn't a bad thing, stated Heather Mangieri, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, to health news website MyHealthNewsDaily.

When it comes to chocolate, US health guru Dr. Andrew Weil recommends opting for high-quality dark chocolate, particularly from France, Belgium, and Venezuela, but limit yourself to an ounce several times a week.

To read more: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-science-willpower/201010/the-superpowers-candy

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