If you’re one of those people who sit at your computer reading or working on your blog, you may also find yourself munching on a handful of dark chocolate chips? You know they’re delicious but are they healthy? Keep reading to find out.
No matter how delicious dark chocolate is, you know that eating too much may not be a good thing. So, its time to do some research about how much damage you may (or may not) be doing to your health by enjoying the treat each evening. As it turns out, as long as you’re not eating a ton of dark chocolate every day, you may not have to worry so much.
Dark chocolate (generally any chocolate with 70% or more cocoa solids) may actually be beneficial to your health – in moderation of course! So, fellow chocolate lovers, munch on! Here are seven health benefits associated with eating dark chocolate.
- Dark chocolate is made with high-quality cocoa powder that is very nutritious. It also has a good quantity of soluble fiber and has many minerals.
- Dark chocolate has several organic compounds like flavanol, catechins, and polyphenols. Studies also show that dark chocolate has more antioxidants than fruits like Acai berries and blueberries.
- Dark chocolate enhances blood flow and helps reduce blood pressure. When studied in controlled trials, this was determined to be true, but the effects are usually mild. We’re sorry, there won’t be any prescriptions for dark chocolate coming out any time soon.
- Dark chocolate, again during a controlled experiment, was found that to reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol (‘bad’ cholesterol) and was able to create more HDL (or ‘good’) cholesterol.
- Dark chocolate has bioactive compounds that are great for your skin. The flavanol is able to shield your skin from sun damage, cultivates blood flow to the skin, and enhances the skin’s density and hydration.
- Dark chocolate can help improve brain function. A study with healthy volunteers, after eating high-flavanol cocoa for 5 days, showed the volunteers were found to have had refined blood flow to the brain.
- Dark chocolate was shown in a report from 2015 to aid both blood pressure and blood sugar. A group of people with type 2 Diabetes consumed 25 grams of dark chocolate or white chocolate for a period of eight weeks. After the test were concluded, those who consumed the dark chocolate had lower blood pressure as well as having reduce fasting blood sugar levels.
You may be surprised there are even more health benefits. If you are interested, you may read about them on Dr. Axe’s website or on the Medical News Today website.