Eating chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can offer numerous health benefits when consumed in moderation. Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, compounds that provide antioxidants and stimulate the production of nitric acid, improving blood circulation and lowering blood pressure. It can also reduce bad cholesterol levels, protect against cardiovascular diseases, boost memory, improve immunity, and even enhance skin health. While dark chocolate is the most beneficial due to its high cocoa content, milk chocolate also offers benefits due to its calcium, phosphorus, and protein content....
Going on a diet doesn’t have to be a bittersweet experience. In fact, there are many reasons why you should add chocolate for a balanced diet! Chocolate has gotten a bad rep for being unhealthy and overly saturated with sugar and calories.
Now, while this may hold some truth to it, the fact of the matter is that just like other sweets and desserts, chocolate is best consumed in moderation, and accordance with your nutritionist's recommendations.
Did you know that the darker the chocolate is, the more health benefits there are? Despite having less sugar compared to regular milk chocolate, you’d be surprised that the tastiness would remain the same.
Take a bite out of some of these tasty health benefits!
Dark chocolate isn’t just rich in flavor, it’s also rich in flavonoids! What are “flavonoids” you ask? They are compounds which provide your body’s tissues with antioxidants—in short, dark chocolate can help make your body healthier at a cellular level!
In addition to helping protect your cells, the same flavonoids can also stimulate the production of nitric acid! What is “nitric acid”? To put it simply, this is a substance that can help improve blood circulation, and so lowers your blood pressure.
Dark chocolate is actually a great treat for those arteries. If you’re worried about raising your cholesterol levels, no need to worry, because a bite or two of this sweet treat can actually reduce the “bad cholesterol” in your blood and reduce the chance of build-up in your body!
We’ve all seen people in movies binge on chocolates during a heartbreaking moment, but there is a scientifically backed reason why chocolates are the way to heal your heart. Since it regulates your cholesterol levels, healthy chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can also help prevent cardiovascular diseases!
Whether you believe in mind over matter, or matter over mind, one thing’s for sure, it’s that chocolate is a treat for both your brain and your heart. If you’re in need of a brain boost, taking a few bites of chocolate could help you retain information! That’s why if you have an important test coming up, try switching out that cup of coffee for a bar of dark chocolate instead.
Did you know that it is possible to improve immunity by eating chocolate? Dark chocolate has compounds that keep the immune system strengthened–such as zinc, a mineral that protects cells from oxidative stress and accelerates wound healing.
We mentioned earlier that chocolate contains antioxidants. Those antioxidants actually help more than just our insides, it also gives our skin that glow from within and smoothens out signs of aging. It also improves blood flow across our skin, which in effect, creates a stronger defense against sun exposure.
The short answer is “no”!
While it is true that dark chocolate is the most ideal choice, you can also find just as many benefits in milk chocolate. Bitter or dark chocolate contains higher cocoa content and, consequently, antioxidants, which helps lower the amount of sugar and fat we consume.
Milk chocolate on the other hand, despite having lower cocoa content, contains milk, which as we all know, contains a good amount of calcium, phosphorus, and proteins—all of which are beneficial to our muscle and bone health.
Still not sure what type of chocolate is best for your diet? Try consulting with a nutritionist first.
