Some of the links in this article are "affiliate links", a link with a special tracking code. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission.
The price of the item is the same whether it is an affiliate link or not. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we believe will add value to our readers.
By using the affiliate links, you are helping support our Website, and we genuinely appreciate your support.
On July 7th, we will be celebrating World Chocolate Day. This is the day that chocolate was first introduced in Europe in 1550. Don’t get this day confused with the other several chocolate related days including, International Chocolate Day (September 13th), National Chocolate Day (October 28th), and National Chocolate Lover’s Month (you guessed it, celebrated in February!). We love our chocolate and have to celebrate it any chance we get. In fact, Americans consume 2.8 billion pounds of it each year. That is 11 pounds per person! No wonder we have so many days dedicated to this delicious candy.
Since we consume so much chocolate, the big question is, “is it good for us?”. The answer is, yes it can be (in moderation of course). Did you know cacao beans, which are used in different percentages in the chocolate making process, are considered a superfood? Why is that? Well, let’s talk about 7 amazing health benefits of dark chocolate…
1. Nutritious
The key with this category is to buy quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa content. A 100g bar of dark chocolate (70-85% cocoa) contains:
- 11g of fiber
- 67% of the DV for iron
- 58% of the DV for magnesium
- 89% of the DV for copper
- 98% of the DV for manganese
- it also has potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium
2. Power source of antioxidants (makes you feel better)
Raw, unprocessed cacao beans are the best and one of the highest scoring antioxidant foods tested with polyphenols and flavanols. Some say higher antioxidant activity than blueberries and acai berries. However, unprocessed cacao beans are very bitter, so the next best thing is the processed cocoa in dark chocolate.
3. May lower blood pressure
Notice I said, “may”. Studies can be varied in this, so take this with a grain of salt. The flavanols in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium (the lining of your arteries) and produce nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide sends signals to your blood vessels to relax. By blood vessels relaxing, then the resistance of blood flow decreases, reducing blood pressure.
4. Raises good cholesterol
In some studies, cocoa powder was found to significantly decrease oxidized LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase HDL (good) cholesterol. This happens because of the antioxidants that protect lipoproteins against oxidative damage.
5. Reduces inflammation and heart disease risk
Because dark chocolate is highly protective against the oxidation of LDL, it should cause much less cholesterol to lodge in the arteries, decreasing calcified plaque, and reducing the risk of heart disease. Depending on the study you look at, this can be up to a 57% risk reduction!
6. Protect your skin from the sun
This comes from the bioactive compounds within dark chocolate. The flavanols can protect against sun damage, improve blood flow to the skin, and increase skin density and hydration.
7. Improves brain function
The flavanol in dark chocolate can also improve blood flow to the brain, increasing cognitive function and improving verbal fluency.
Now, with this said, 100g of dark chocolate is a lot of chocolate. Chocolate also has sugar, caffeine, and theobromine, so keep that in mind and eat in moderation.
Next time you are at the store, grab that dark chocolate and give yourself a treat!
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained within this article are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this article is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read within this article.
