Eating chocolate does not have to be a guilty pleasure. But this goes for dark chocolate only! As dark chocolate has a lot of nutritional benefits for you. Made from the seeds of the cacao trees it can do wonders for you. If you’re a person who loves to eat chocolate, here are some solid beneficial excuses to do so.
1. Good for the heart
Dark chocolate may help prevent heart disease and lower the risk of stroke. Research shows that it’s the flavonoids in dark chocolate that maintain heart health. A lot of studies have also stated the same, saying that eating dark chocolate once a week can help an 8% lower risk of blocked arteries.
2. Beneficial for the brain
Eating dark chocolate may improve cognition, prevent memory loss and boost your mood. Studies show that consuming dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa benefits the brain. It stimulates neural activity in areas of the brain associated with pleasure which in turn decreases stress and improves mood.
3. Anti-inflammatory
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to germs and other harmful substances. Dark chocolate contains compounds with anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce inflammation in the body.
4. May help in weight loss
Now you may think eating chocolate to help lose weight is probably the most illogical way to do it but research suggests dark chocolate may play a role in controlling appetite which in turn could help with weight loss. Of course, eating more than the recommended amount per day can counteract any potential weight loss benefits.
5. Plays a role in cancer prevention
Evidence shows that it possesses properties that could help protect against certain types of cancer. It fights free radicals and may play a role in preventing them. Antioxidants protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals.
6. Good for the skin
Dark chocolate is packed with vitamins and minerals like copper, iron, magnesium, and manganese that are beneficial to your skin. Manganese for example supports the production of collagen a protein that helps keep skin looking young and healthy. Also dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants which help protect skin from the powerful ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun.
As we can see there are a lot of benefits of eating dark chocolate but one should always keep in mind even medicine is poison if taken more than recommended. So, dark chocolate, at the end of the day, is after all a form of chocolate, and people interested in adding dark chocolate to their diet should keep in mind that it is high in fat and calories, so moderation is key.