Dark Chocolate is a form of chocolate containing cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar, without the milk found in milk chocolate. It is also known as black chocolate, plain chocolate, and sour chocolate.
Dark chocolate has a reputation as a healthier alternative to other types of chocolate. It is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health. It is one of the best sources of antioxidants on the planet. Studies show that it can improve your health and lower the risk of heart disease.
Here’s the list of Health Benefits fo Dark Chocolate:
Very Nutritious
Dark chocolate has a high content of cocoa which is actually quite nutritious. It contains a decent amount of soluble fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, and has plenty of potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium. All these nutrients also come with calories and moderate amounts of sugar so it should be consumed in moderation.
It also contains stimulants like caffeine and theobromine, but won’t keep you awake cos the amount caffeine is not that much compared to coffee.
Antioxidants
Dark chocolate has also organic compounds that are biologically active and function as antioxidants, such as polyphenols, flavanols, and catechins, among others.
Help Improve Blood Flow and Lower Blood Pressure
The bioactive compounds in cocoa help improve blood flow in the arteries and cause a small but statistically significant decrease in blood pressure. The flavanols in dark chocolate can stimulate the lining of arteries to produce nitric oxide, which sends signals to the arteries to relax.
Raises HDL and Protects LDL from Oxidation
Dark chocolate improves several important risk factors for disease. It lowers the susceptibility of LDL to oxidative damage while increasing HDL and improving insulin sensitivity.
Reduce Heart Disease
Another study showed that consuming dark chocolate more than 5 times per week lowered the risk of heart disease by 57%.
Protect Your Skin From the Sun
Studies show that the flavanols from cocoa can improve blood flow to the skin and protect it from sun damage. The flavonols can protect against sun damage, improve blood flow to the skin and increase skin density and hydration. The minimal erythemal dose (MED) is the minimum amount of UVB rays required to cause redness in the skin 24 hours after exposure.
Improve Brain Function
Dark chocolate may also improve the function of your brain. Cocoa may also significantly improve cognitive function in elderly people with mental impairment. It may improve verbal fluency and several risk factors for disease, as well.
Cocoa contains stimulant substances like caffeine and theobromine, which may be a key reason why it can improve brain function in the short term
