Dark Chocolate contains numerous amount of nutrients which have a positive impact on your health and are beneficial for your body.
Eating dark chocolate with a good amount of cocoa can provide us with antioxidants and minerals which protect us from heart diseases.
But you should know that it also contains high amounts of sugar and calories so eat it in moderation.
Dark chocolate is made from a seed of a tree known as cocoa tree which is one of the best sources of antioxidants you can find on planet earth.
Eating dark chocolate lowers the risk of heart disease and is beneficial for your health. Studies show us that it can improve your blood flow and decrease the risk of heart disease.
Health Benefits of Eating Dark Chocolate:
Following are some of the Health benefits of eating dark chocolate.
1. Great Source Of Nutrients:
If you eat quality dark chocolate which has a high content of cocoa present in it then it contains a large amount of nutrients.
Dark chocolate has a decent amount of fibre which is soluble and has important minerals.
A bar of dark chocolate which is about 100-gram and has 70-85% cocoa in it may contain
- 66% of DV for iron
- 196% of DV for copper
- 57% of DVA for magnesium
- 11 grams of fibre in it
- 85% of manganese
Along with all of these, it also contains phosphorus, potassium, selenium and zinc.
Dark chocolate also contains a large amount of sugar and calories in it and 100 grams bar of dark chocolate is fairly large and is not something you should eat daily.
So always eat dark chocolate in moderation.
2. Protects against high levels of cholesterol:
Consuming dark chocolate is also beneficial and important for us as it protects us against high levels and concentrations of cholesterol.
It is said that dark chocolate which is supplemented with flavanol lycopene is found to decrease the level of cholesterol, LDL cholesterol which is "BAD" cholesterol and triglycerides significantly.
There are various forms of LDL cholesterol and some of them are likely to be oxidised if they react with a free radical present in our body. Once it is oxidized it can harm tissues such as the lining of arteries which are present in your heart.
Cocoa contains powerful antioxidants which lower the oxidation-prone types of LDL and these antioxidants make it into the bloodstream and protect the lipoproteins in our body against the damage caused by oxidative agents.
However, flavanols present in dark chocolate can also reduce the resistance of insulin which is a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease. Dark chocolate also contains sugar which can have the opposite effect on your body and can cause problems.
3. May Improve Brain Functionality:
Dark Chocolate has various benefits for your brain and its proper functioning.
Studies show that eating cocoa with high content of flavanols can improve the flow of blood to the brain in young adults.
Eating cocoa can improve your ability to learn such as verbal learning, concentration and paying attention and focus and also improves your memory.
Along with caffeine cocoa also contains theobromine, which can improve your brain functioning in the short term.
4. Protect Skin from Sun:
Dark Chocolate contains bioactive compounds which are good for your skin.
The flavonols can protect your skin against the damage caused by Sun and improve blood flow to the skin. It also increases skin density and hydration.
But before eating a large amount of dark chocolate consult your dermatologist or doctor first. Also, you should remember that dark chocolate is not as good as sunscreen and other sun protection.
5. Reduces the risk of heart disease:
The compounds which are present in dark chocolate are highly protective against the oxidation of LDL and the damage caused by it.
In long term, it should cause less cholesterol to accumulate in arteries and as a result, the risk of heart disease decreases significantly.
Studies show that eating a bar of chocolate 3 times a week can lower cardiovascular disease by 9%.
However, more studies are needed to confirm it but to lower blood pressure and low oxidation-prone prone LDL it's good to eat a bar of dark chocolate and we can say that it reduces the risk of heart disease.
Research shows that people who consume a moderate amount of chocolate have a low risk of heart disease.
6. May Improve Blood Flow:
The Flavonoids which are present in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium, the lining of arteries to produce Nitric Oxide.
Nitric Oxide sends signals to arteries to relax which as a result lowers the resistance offered to blood flow by arteries and therefore reduces the pressure of blood.
The effects are usually mild but studies show that cocoa and dark chocolate can improve blood and also reduce blood pressure.
7. Source of antioxidants:
Dark Chocolate contains numerous organic compounds which are biologically active and act as antioxidants. For example polyphenols, catechins and flavonols.
The polyphenols present in dark chocolate may help in lowering the LDL cholesterol when it is combined with foods like cocoa and almonds.
Cocoa and dark chocolate have different antioxidants which are powerful and beneficial for your body too.
Overall Conclusion:
All of the discussion above gives us strong evidence that cocoa and dark chocolates have different health benefits for us and are protective against heart disease.
But it doesn't mean that you should consume lots and lots of chocolate as it is loaded with calories and sugar which can cause problems for you and your health. As it is delicious and people can easily overeat it, try not to do that and consume it in moderate amounts.
Eat a square or two of chocolate after dinner but try to eat in less amount. If you want all these benefits without the calories then try making hot cocoa without any sugar or cream.
Consume chocolate in moderation and choose a bar of high-quality chocolate for yourself as a lot of chocolates which are available in the market are not nutritious.
Choose dark chocolate with 70% or higher concentration of cocoa in it. Chocolate is a remarkable food which has great taste and also provides a significant amount of benefits for health but it should be consumed in moderation.
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