Sweet indulgence does the Vito good
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Even the healthiest athletes have guilty pleasures. after long hours of training, riding, and even tweeting, first time Olympian snowboarder, Louie Vito, admits there’s one thing at the end of the day that he craves-warm chocolate cake.
“I really like desert a lot and definitely chocolate. I don’t go too crazy but when the time is right, I really like warm chocolate cake. I’m not a big fan of cake at restaurants. I like it homemade just because you can eat so much of it. It’s like a warm cookie. You eat one and then you’re like, ‘ok fine, I’ll have one more,’” Louie admits.
But can this kind of chocolate indulgence actually be healthy for you? Nutritionist Pam Vagnieres, MS, MNT, CSCS says that in moderation, the right kind of chocolate can actually be good for the heart. “If he can be satisfied nibbling on dark chocolate bars (>70% cocoa), it will be low in sugar, and high in flavanoids and magnesium, which have been shown in studies to promote heart health,” Pam explains.
That’s not to say Olympians can go snacking on chocolate morsels and sugar-coated candy to their heart’s content. as always, the magical word is moderation. Thankfully, Louie is burning calories at such a quick rate throughout the day that a little chocolate indulgence won’t likely affect his performance (or waistline).
So, to all you chocolate lovers out there (and we know you’re out there), rest easy in the fact that a little of the sweet stuff actually does the body good.
Sweet indulgence does the Vito good
