Dark chocolate contains powerful antioxidants. There are many benefits associated with epicatechin, a flavonol. Plant flavonoids protect cells by fighting inflammation and protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals.
There is a connection between chocolate and obesity and acne, which makes it a treat considered indulgent. Americans spend $10 billion a year on chocolatey treats. Numerous studies have shown that dark chocolate has a number of health benefits. You may not be aware of these 20 things that will help you enjoy it guilt-free. The key to moderation is, of course, moderation!
1. Healthy hearts can be maintained by it
Flavonoids found in chocolate may help your veins and arteries remain supple. A few servings of dark chocolate a week were given to 114,000 participants in seven studies. They had a 37% lower risk of getting a heart attack and a 29% lower risk of getting a stroke when they consumed more chocolate.
2. Age-related memory loss may be improved by it
In research, cocoa extracts high in flavanols were given to elderly people in order to improve their cognitive function. As a result of the processing and the addition of eggs, sugar, and milk to chocolate, the percentage of cocoa flavanols is greatly reduced when consumed.
3. Preventing sunburn can be achieved with it
Researchers in London found that women who ate chocolate with a high flavanol content felt the sun twice as long before burning, compared to those who ate chocolate with a lower percentage of flavanol.
4. Math skills may improve as a result
Math was never my strong suit at school. Dark chocolate might have been a better choice for me! I have reached this startling conclusion after reading about the research of Professor David Kennedy, Director of Brain, Performance, and Nutrition at Northumbria University (UK). A hot cocoa drink containing 500 mg of flavanols was given to participants. Thus, complex math equations were easier to solve because there was more blood flow to the brain.
5. It may improve your mood
If my uncle had read about the work at Swinburne University in Australia when he told my aunt not to cry, he would have given her some chocolate. In this study, the cocoa polyphenols were targeted again and found to have positive effects on the mood of the participants, who were calmer and more cheerful.
6. Cholesterol levels may be lowered by it
An interesting article in the Journal of Nutrition discusses the results of a study aimed at determining if dark chocolate affects LDL cholesterol. The researchers discovered that subjects who ate dark chocolate containing plant sterols and flavanols had lower cholesterol levels.
7. Alzheimer’s disease sufferers may find it useful
As we know, Alzheimer’s disease damages nerve pathways in the brain, causing the severe mental decline. The fact that washing, an extract from cocoa, actually reduces the damage to these pathways is fascinating to read.
8. Exercise can be improved with it
Epicatechin is another powerful flavanol found in chocolate. This substance made mice much healthier and stronger than mice who only had water to drink. It is recommended that you limit your chocolate consumption to no more than half a square a day to get the best results from your workout. The benefits may be undone if you consume too much.
9. It contains a lot of nutrients
You can get a very nutritious snack if you choose chocolate with a high cocoa content (75% to 85%). Let’s take a 100-gram chocolate bar as an example. Copper and manganese are almost all of your recommended daily allowances. You get more than half your magnesium RDA from it, and about two-thirds (67%) of your iron RDA from it. Additionally, it contains about 10% fiber. Besides zinc and selenium, potassium is also abundant.
10. Blood pressure can be lowered by it
Your arteries can relax when you have the right amount of NO (Nitric Oxide) in your body. Consequently, they will have less pressure on them and their blood pressure will be lower. This essential Nitric Oxide is also produced by the dark chocolate flavanols.
11. Endorphins are produced more readily when you take it
It can be due to excitement, love or exercise when you are on a high. It occurs because endorphins, brain hormones, are released. As an added benefit to chocolate, flavanols also help to produce endorphins without the need to run a marathon! Depressive disorders and other mental disorders can be prevented with the help of endorphins.
12. During pregnancy, it may reduce complications
During pregnancy, one of the complications is preeclampsia, which causes high blood pressure. Theobromine, one of the chemicals in dark chocolate, stimulates the heart and dilates arteries, according to researchers. Higher doses of chocolate reduced the risk of this complication by 40% in pregnant women.
13. Diabetes may benefit from it
In a small study at the University of L’Aquila in Italy, researchers found that the right dose of chocolate flavonoids can help the body’s metabolism and enhance insulin function. You might think that chocolate is too sweet for diabetics and one of their banned treats, but a study suggests that it can help the body’s metabolism and enhance insulin function. People with diabetes could benefit from this, but more studies are needed.
14. You may feel less tempted to eat
The feeling is familiar: you’re unable to function without a snack. According to a small study, dark chocolate is one of the healthiest snacks because it fills you up quicker and reduces cravings for salty and sweet snacks.
15. Your cough may get better with this
Chocolate is also able to calm a cough because of theobromine, which is a chemical in chocolate. As an alternative to codeine, which has several undesirable side effects, manufacturers are examining this method to produce safer cough syrups.
16. There is a possibility that it will improve circulation
Blood clotting is prevented and circulation is improved by taking an aspirin. Chocolate has been found to have similar effects in studies.
17. You can also benefit from it if you have poor vision
Dark chocolate flavanols are known to help improve blood circulation, which is why University of Reading researchers wondered if they could improve vision. In a small experiment, they gave white and dark chocolate to two groups of volunteers. In the following tests, those who had eaten dark chocolate performed better in the dark chocolate group.
18. There is a possibility that it may reduce fatigue
Add chocolate to your daily diet if you suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. For two months, chocolate was given daily to one group of sufferers. It was easier for them to take care of themselves, and they lost weight without gaining any.
19. Body mass index may be lowered by it
Chocolate has been credited with reducing your body mass index (BMI), which measures your height versus your weight based on your height. There was a study that looked at 1,000 Californians and found those who ate chocolate on a regular basis had a lower body mass index. This result was not affected by overall diet and exercise regimes.
20. Cancer risk may be reduced by taking it
Aside from their antioxidant properties, cocoa flavanols in dark chocolate are anti-inflammatory as well. Antioxidants play an important role in preventing free radical damage. Cancer cells invade these cells when they become infected, as we know.
After you’ve completed the list, why not enjoy some dark chocolate? Dark is better, so be sure to keep that in mind!