5 Benefits of Black Chocolate for Your Health

If there is a food that has a certain undeserved reputation, it is chocolate. In fact, it is a very healthy food, as long as it is consumed in adequate quantities and of the adequate quality.

In some cases, the cocoa content of a certain chocolate is so low, but on the other hand, the content of fats and sugars is so high that it really is not convenient to consume it in any way. However, dark chocolate has advantages of all kinds for our health and should be present in our diet, if we want to be healthy people.

The most recommended chocolate is dark chocolate with a content higher than 70% cocoa.

The taste is very intense and the color very dark. It is important to read the label well before buying it to make sure it is this kind of chocolate. Let’s see now what are its main benefits.

Here are the 7 Fascinating Benefits of Black Chocolate That Will Make You Love More Chocolate

1. The Black Chocolate Has Anti-Aging Properties, Thanks To Its Great Amount Of Antioxidants

Dark chocolate has a significant amount of organic components that are biologically active, acting as antioxidants, particularly flavonoids.

It also contains a large number of biologically active components that act as antioxidants. These include polyphenols, flavonoids, catechins, among others.

One study showed that cocoa and dark chocolate contains more antioxidants, polyphenols, and flavonoids than other fruits, including blueberries and Acai Berries

Antioxidants are substances that fight the fearful free radicals. As the year’s pass, these free radicals are formed, which deteriorate the cells and are responsible for aging.

It should be noted that in laboratory tests performed with cocoa seeds, it was shown that these have a very high resistance to the effect produced by free radicals.

Of course, it is not only the aged aspect but also the free radicals that lead to the appearance of degenerative diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Dark chocolate in moderate amounts helps avoid all that.

2. Black Chocolate Can Improve Your Brain Activity And Act As An Antidepressant

Chocolate has the ability to normalize serotonin levels in our brain.

This, which seems complex, is quite simple. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (official communicator between neurons) and its levels must be within a certain range. When serotonin is low in the interneuronal space, depression appears.

In a 5-day study, volunteers were given pure chocolate with a high flavanol content, which increased blood flow to the brain.

Intuitively many people tend to eat chocolate in sad times, but it is not a myth but a reality with many foundations.

Additionally, cocoa can significantly improve cognitive functions in the elderly with mental deterioration. It also improves mental fluency and reduces the risk factors for other diseases.

3. Black Chocolate Is Highly Nutritious

Very important for our body, such as vitamin B, C, D and E. The profile of fatty acids found in cocoa and dark chocolate are excellent. Fats are mostly saturated and monounsaturated, with small amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Dark chocolate of great quality is very nutritious since it contains a decent amount of soluble fiber and is loaded with minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc.

Consume a 100-gram bar of Black Chocolate contains 70-85% cocoa:

• 11 grams of fiber
• 67% Iron IDR
• 58% of Magnesium IDR
• 89% Copper IDR
• 98% of Manganese IDR
• It also contains potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium

The iron that is so important to combat anemia is found in significant amounts in dark chocolate. It also contains calcium, very important during growth and after menopause to prevent osteoporosis.

The fatty acid profile of cocoa and dark chocolate are excellent. Fats are saturated and monounsaturated, with a small number of polyunsaturated fats.

In addition, it contains stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine, although it is unlikely that eating chocolate will keep you awake at night, since the amount of caffeine it contains is much less than that of coffee.

4.Black Chocolate Can Improve Blood Flow and Reduce Blood Pressure

The flavonoids in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium, increase the layer and lining of the arteries, and produce more nitric oxide (NO), which is a gas.

One of the main functions of Nitric Oxide is to send signals to the arteries to relax (this is one of the reasons why it is used by bodybuilders), which decreases the resistance of the blood flow and therefore reduces blood pressure.

There are many controlled studies that prove that dark chocolate can improve blood flow and blood pressure, but the effects are moderate.

However, there is a study in people with high blood pressure where it is shown that there was no effect or improvement.

5. Black Chocolate Reduces the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases

The compounds in dark chocolate, as I said in the previous point, are very effective in protecting LDL from oxidation.

In the long term, this should cause a much lower amount of cholesterol to lodge in the arteries, allowing a lower risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease.

In a study of 470 elderly men, it was found that cocoa reduces the risk of cardiovascular death by 50% for a period of 15 years.

Another study revealed that eating chocolate twice a week reduces the risk of calcified plaque in the arteries by 32%. Eating chocolate less often does not have any effect.

And if this is not enough, another observational study found that eating chocolate 5 times a week reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 57%.

conclusion

You can add dark chocolate to your diet and take advantage of all the benefits of this food.

Take into account that you must consume dark chocolate, a lot of the chocolate they sell in stores and in supermarkets, it has a lot of sugar and milk, so buy a brand that contains very little chocolate or you can buy powder Cocoa and add it to your smoothies or even make your own chocolate bar.

So you already have the perfect excuses to eat this delicious sweet.