Dark Chocolate is one of the most loved and enjoyed deserts in the world. The rich taste of coco makes all the difference between dark chocolate and milk chocolate. Dark chocolate has a lot of health benefits due to their coco content. Dark chocolate is rich in coca and less in sugar than regular chocolate which is why if consumed in moderation it provides multiple health benefits. In this blog we will understand the health benefits of dark chocolate.
Dark Chocolate Benefits
1 Helps to Provide Nutrition
A quality dark chocolate with high coco content provides multiple nutrients. A high-quality dark chocolate contains both soluble and insoluble fibre. An average 100g of dark chocolate bar provides 11g of fibre which can help with gut health. It also provides potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium. Dark chocolate also provides healthy fats. Nutritional value of dark chocolate
- 11 grams of fiber
- 66% of the DV for iron
- 57% of the DV for magnesium
- 196% of the DV for copper
- 85% of the DV for manganese
2. Helps to Provide Antioxidants
Antioxidants help the body by neutralising free radicals and protecting healthy cells. Dark chocolate has antioxidants called flavonoids which are a type of polyphenol. These antioxidants Helps you to improve your heart health, reduce inflammation and improve brain function. In fact, the antioxidant content in dark chocolate is higher than some fruits like acai, blueberries, and pomegranates, as well as red wine (1).
3. Helps to Improve Gut Health
Dark chocolate is also a gut friendly food. Polyphenols present in dark chocolate are beneficial for gut microbes. Coco is also a prebiotic, a type of fibre which is good for gut microbes. Make sure you consume dark chocolate in moderation to avoid stomach upset.
4. Helps to Improve the Blood Flow
Another major benefit of flavonoids is managing blood pressure. Dark chocolate with high coca helps to improve blood flow and reduce blood pressure. Flavonoids help to improve vasodilation leading to improved blood flow. Multiple research suggests that improved blood vessel function lowers blood pressure and a lower risk of heart disease in people with and without preexisting health conditions (2).
5. Helps to Reduce Cholesterol
Polyphenols found in dark chocolate also help to reduce cholesterol. Polyphenol helps to improve good cholesterol and reduce bad cholesterol (3). Bad cholesterol gets oxidised when it reacts with free radicals in your body. Oxidation can make bad cholesterol reactive and capable of damaging other tissues, such as the lining of the arteries in your heart. Hence dark chocolate with antioxidant properties can help to reduce bad cholesterol and improve heart health. One study found that eating chocolate 3 times per week lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease by 9% (4).
6. Helps to Improve Skin Health
Dark chocolate is also helpful to improve your skin health. Dark Chocolate provides essential vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, copper and iron which are good for skin health. Flavonoid present in dark chocolate protects your skin from sun damage, improves blood flow to the skin, and increases skin density and hydration.
7. Helps to Improve Brain Function
Multiple scientific studies have found that flavonoid present in dark chocolate helps to improve oxygen levels, nerve function, and blood flow in the brain. Flavonoids are also associated with increased nerve cell growth cell growth in the brain. It also improves the activity in the brain associated with memory and learning.
8. Helps to Improve Mood
One of the most popular benefits of dark chocolate is that it helps to improve your mood. Flavonoids present in dark chocolate releases endorphins which elevates the mood. Cocoa compounds are also involved in serotonin production, a neurotransmitter boosting mood.
Some studies also suggest that chocolate stimulates neural activity in areas of the brain associated with pleasure and reward, which in turn decreases stress and improves your mood.
9. Helps to Reduce Diabetes
Dark chocolate helps to manage diabetes due to its flavonoid content. It helps to increase the body’s ability to use insulin efficiently. Dark chocolate also helps to reduce blood sugar levels and improve glucose metabolism. According to studies, a small amount of dark chocolate daily may help manage diabetes or lower the risk of developing it (5).
Conclusion
Dark chocolate has been scientifically proven to help improve health. Dark chocolate provides important vitamins and minerals along with antioxidants which help to improve blood flow, reduce cholesterol, enhance mood, improve gut health and help to reduce diabetes. Make sure you choose a dark chocolate which has more than 70% coca.
There is no best time to eat dark chocolate but make sure you consume dark chocolate in moderation to avoid consuming excess sugar and calories.
FAQs
1. What are the 7 proven health benefits of dark chocolate?
The seven benefits of dark chocolate are
- Helps to provide antioxidant benefits
- Helps to improve gut health
- Helps to enhance the mood
- Helps to improve heart health
- Helps to manage diabetes
- Helps to improve brain function
- Helps to reduce cholesterol
2. What are the health benefits of 85% dark chocolate?
Health benefits of 85% dark chocolate are mood enhancement, better cardiovascular health, reduced cholesterol and better gut health.
3. What happens if you eat dark chocolate every day?
Eating dark chocolate every day can be bad for your health. Dark chocolate contains sugar and calories which can lead to weight gain and high blood pressure.
4. Is 100% dark chocolate good for you?
Yes. 100% dark chocolate is good for your health.
5. Which dark chocolate is healthiest?
Dark chocolate with more than 70% of coco content is healthiest
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise through your blog post. The clarity of your explanations made it easy to grasp complex concepts.