9 Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
Here are 9 health benefits of dark chocolate or cocoa that are supported by science. Although experience suggests that too much of anything is unhealthy, a surprising number of studies have discovered that chocolate can be beneficial to your health.
Here are 9 health benefits of Dark Chocolate or Cocoa.
- Dark chocolate can reduce the risk of death from a heart attack, decrease blood pressure.
- Eating chocolate can help improve your math. Seriously! a study done by British Scientists revealed that eating chocolate helps with mental math.
- Dark chocolate may improve mood and pleasure by boosting serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain.
- Cocoa, which is used to make chocolate, provides phytochemicals. These can improve health by acting as antioxidants. The darker the chocolate, the higher the phytochemical content.
- Dark chocolate contains some vitamins and minerals, like magnesium, calcium, potassium that the body needs.
- Cocoa may have a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels because it consists mainly of stearic acid and oleic acid. Stearic acid is a saturated fat, but unlike most saturated fatty acids, it does not raise blood cholesterol levels. Oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat, does not raise cholesterol and may even reduce it.
- Dark chocolate can protect nerves from injury and inflammation.
- Cocoa can protect the skin from oxidative damage from UV radiation in topical preparations.
- Dark chocolate can have beneficial effects on satiety, cognitive function, and mood.
Bonus health benefit of Dark Chocolate or Cocaa
- Cocoa Contains flavonoids which include procyanidins & epicatechins; flavonoids are part of a group of antioxidants known as polyphenols which are known to be great for heart function and heart health.
sources:
National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Scientists reveal how eating chocolate can help improve your maths
