The science is clear—if you like chocolate, you may be poised to reap some interesting health benefits ranging from improved mood to a reduced risk of stroke. But here’s the rub: it has to be dark chocolate, at least 72 percent cocoa solids. Less than that and the sugar mitigates the benefits and turns it into just another type of candy. That said, if quality dark chocolate is your bag, here are some of the ways that it could benefit you health-wise.
Chocolate is good for your heart
It seems dark chocolate reduces the amount of cholesterol that lodges in the arteries. One observational study of 470 senior men found that cocoa reduced the risk of cardiovascular death by 50 percent over a 15-year period.
Chocolate slows aging
Eat chocolate and look younger? Okay! Cocoa flavonoids have been shown to result in smoother, firmer skin that showed less sun damage. Flavonoids also help fight skin cancer. An easy way to reap the benefits without downing all the calories is by adding a teaspoon of cocoa powder to your morning coffee.
Chocolate improves brain function?
Yes, it can! Cocoa is high in flavonoids that can increase blood flow to the brain. It also contains caffeine and theobromine, stimulants that may also be responsible for a short-term boost in brain function.
Chocolate relieves coughing
Chocolate contains theobromine, which has been found to quiet coughs almost as effectively as codeine. Theobromine is behind chocolate’s feel-good effect and is thought to suppress the vagus nerve in the brain, which controls the coughing reflex. Moreover, it has none of the negative side effects of codeine, such as drowsiness, and it tastes better too!
Chocolate may fight cancer
It sounds too good to be true, but your favourite indulgence may be a cancer fighter. Chocolate contains an antioxidant called catechin. Catechin has been linked to lower rates of lung cancer in senior Dutch men as well as a 45 percent lower risk of rectal cancer in postmenopausal women in the United States.
Chocolate has pregnancy benefits
If you’re pregnant and craving chocolate, you’re in luck. Researchers have found that pregnant women who report eating chocolate every day throughout their pregnancy found their babies to be more active and even keeled at six months of age.
Chocolate is highly nutritious
A 101-gram bar of dark chocolate with 70 to 85 percent cocoa has a whopping 11 g of soluble fibre and is loaded with 12.02 milligrams (mg) of iron and 230.00 mg of magnesium. Be careful, though—100 grams is a lot of chocolate to consume in a day as it contains 604 calories and a moderate amount of sugar.
Chocolate improves your vision
Study participants who were given dark chocolate were better able to distinguish items on a similarly coloured background and determine the direction of moving dots faster than when given white chocolate. These two measurements are essential for night driving.
Chocolate is mood food
Ever notice how good chocolate makes you feel? That’s because chocolate increases your endorphins. Endorphins are the chemicals in the brain that are responsible for feelings of pleasure. Speaking of pleasure, dark chocolate also contains phenylethylamine, a compound that has been dubbed the “love drug” for the euphoria it creates, which is similar to the feeling of being in love.
Chocolate keeps you slim
Good news for the waistline! According to a study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, folks who eat small quantities of dark chocolate on a regular basis have a lower body mass index (BMI). BMI is a measurement of a person’s body fat based on height and weight. The healthy BMI range for an adult is 18.5 to 24.9. A BMI of over 25 is associated with a greater risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.
Chocolate lowers the risk of stroke
The antioxidants and fibre contained in cocoa powder are digested in the colon. There, the compounds are absorbed into the body, reducing inflammation within cardiovascular tissue and reducing the long-term risk of stroke.
Chocolate may protect your skin from the sun
Planning a beach holiday? You may want to load up on dark chocolate in the weeks prior to your departure. The flavonols in chocolate can more than double the minimum amount of UVB rays required to cause reddening of the skin 24 hours after sun exposure.
Chocolate relieves diarrhea
Chocolate can be a tasty way to bring an end to this rather unpleasant experience. The flavonoids found in cocoa bind to the protein that controls fluid secretion in the small intestine, which may help bring the runs to a grinding halt.
Chocolate reduces inflammation
According to research presented at the 2014 American Chemical Society meeting, chocolate feeds the good microbes in your gut, helping it ferment into anti-inflammatory compounds.
Chocolate relieves PMS
Cravings are a known symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), but there’s a reason behind the craving for chocolate in particular. It releases endorphins that reduce anxiety. Its high magnesium content also helps with water retention and bloating.
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