Whether you’re looking to satisfy a sweet craving or boost your overall health, dark chocolate is an excellent choice. It’s a source of antioxidants and flavanols, plant compounds with powerful disease-fighting properties.
Research shows that consuming dark chocolate can lower blood pressure, which could help protect against heart disease. It also improves insulin sensitivity, which can help prevent diabetes.
1. Lowers Blood Pressure
A new study shows that eating just 6.7 grams of dark chocolate per day may help lower your blood pressure. It’s believe that the flavanols in dark chocolate can help lower your systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
In addition, the flavanols in dark chocolate stimulate nitric oxide production in the body. カマグラ helps relax blood vessels and improves circulation, which can lower your blood pressure.
However, be aware that too much dark chocolate can be un health for you, as it contains fats and sugars, so it’s important to eat it in moderation. The best way to enjoy a health dose of dark chocolate is to choose a high-quality brand that has at least 70 percent cocoa solids.
The researchers in the study also found that dark chocolate can increase your insulin sensitivity, which is good for reducing your risk of diabetes. It can also increase your HDL cholesterol levels, which are the “good” cholesterol that lowers your risk of heart disease.
While these findings are exciting, there are still many more things to know about the health benefits of dark chocolate. For example, the cocoa butter in dark chocolate raises your good cholesterol levels, and it may have anti-inflammatory properties that prevent inflammation from causing or worsening cardiovascular disease.
2. Reduces Risk of Cancer
Dark chocolate contains a lot of antioxidants, which help fight off cancer-causing free radicals. It also reduces inflammation, which may help prevent cancer cells from growing and spreading.
One study found that eating dark chocolate regularly can lower your risk of colon cancer. Another show that it can protect against a variety of tumors.
However, it’s important to remember that not all chocolate is create equal. Some contain a high percentage of sugar, which isn’t good for you. Ideally, you should stick to products that have a high cacao content and are low in sugar.
Choosing a bar with 70% or higher cocoa solids will ensure that you get the most health benefits from the flavanols in dark chocolate. Milk chocolate or other low-quality products have much lower cocoa solids and higher sugar, making them less beneficial.
In fact, researchers have shown that a small serving of dark chocolate can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by about 8 percent. It can even lower your risk of stroke and diabetes if consume in moderation.
If you’re considering eating dark chocolate to boost your heart health, choose a bar that has at least 70% cocoa solids and has at least some of the antioxidant flavanol epicatechin. Other products, such as white chocolate or low-quality milk chocolate, can have too much sugar to be effective.
It’s especially important to avoid drinking hot chocolate, as it can also contribute to your exposure to heavy metals like lead and cadmium. It’s a good idea to limit your consumption of chocolate, including dark, to 28 grams per day.
In addition to lowering your risk of heart disease, dark chocolate can also aid in weight loss. The antioxidants in dark chocolate help break down fat and metabolize it into energy. The flavanols in dark chocolate also boost your HDL cholesterol, which helps lower your total cholesterol level. These benefits are particularly helpful for older adults and those at a higher risk of heart disease, says Dr. Gray, a gastroenterologist at University of Maryland Medical Center.
3. Aids in Weight Loss
Dark chocolate has a lot of health benefits, and it can help you lose weight. But it is important to remember that chocolate contains calories, so it’s best to choose high-quality options with less sugar and fat.
When you eat a small serving of dark chocolate, Genericmeds will help to stabilize your blood sugar levels and control your appetite.
Taking in a little chocolate each day can also help to reduce the levels of ghrelin, one of the hormones that control your appetite. It can help you feel fuller and eat less, explains Alicia Peart, a register dietitian in New York City.
In addition to lowering the levels of ghrelin, dark chocolate can also lower your insulin levels. Insulin is a key hormone in controlling your hunger and cravings, but too much of it can cause your body to become resistant to it. By consuming a small amount of dark chocolate each day, you can improve your body’s sensitivity to insulin and prevent this condition from occurring.
According to a study publish in the Journal of Nutrition, dark chocolate may actually help you lose weight by improving your metabolism. This happens because dark chocolate contains monounsaturate fatty acids, which are known to promote fat loss and boost your metabolism.
Another important benefit of a moderate intake of dark chocolate is that it can reduce your risk of heart disease. It is rich in antioxidants call polyphenols, which can help to improve the function of your blood vessels and lower your blood pressure.
The flavonoids in dark chocolate may also have the ability to decrease oxidative stress, which can lead to heart disease. It is also believe that reducing oxidative stress can decrease your risk of developing diabetes.
4. Stimulates the Brain
Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which are antioxidants that protect cells from damage by unstable oxygen molecules. Antioxidants also help prevent low-grade inflammation and diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Several studies have shown that drinking hot cocoa rich in flavonoids improves blood flow to the brain, which in turn boosts memory, attention, and reaction time. Researchers also found that it increases nerve function and improves vision.
In addition, regular consumption of flavonoids-rich dark chocolate helps protect the brain from inflammation and age-relate cognitive decline. It also boosts serotonin, the neurotransmitter that boosts mood and reduces the risk of depression.
Finally, research shows that it may help prevent cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease by improving glucose metabolism in the brain. It’s possible that the antioxidant properties of dark chocolate could protect brain cells from insulin resistance, which is a common cause of dementia.
It’s also show that drinking two cups of hot chocolate rich in flavonoids can increase blood flow to the brain, which improves brain function. This may be especially helpful for seniors, who often struggle with mental decline as they age. However, more research is need to determine if these benefits are a result of the flavonoids or other factors.
