EBN- Dark chocolate is loaded with health benefits that include boosting your heart health, keeping you stress-free, boosting your immunity levels, and more. While chocolate is a high-calorie food, experts say you shouldn’t completely deprive yourself of it, lest you feel guilty and overeat more.
Instead, try to set some conditions for your relationship with chocolate, according to Times Now.
Taste dark chocolate, which contains more than 80% cocoa and less sugar, and enjoy it without feeling guilty.
Some of the health benefits of chocolate include:
Promotes heart health
Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants that help lower blood pressure levels, reduce the risk of clotting, and increase blood flow to your heart, thus reducing the risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, and death from heart disease.
Boost immunity
Dark chocolate is also high in flavonols, which prevent the immune system from overworking and reduce oxidative stress—a malfunction of cells fighting free radicals that is a common cause of many diseases.
Fighting diabetes
The naturally occurring substance epicatechin in chocolate protects cells, makes them stronger, and supports processes that help the body use insulin better, helping to prevent or fight this debilitating disease.
Improve brain function
Chocolate is high in flavonols, which have positive effects on brain function, including improving cognitive health, visual-spatial awareness, and memory. Although research is ongoing, one reason for this may be that flavonols increase blood flow to the brain.
Promotes oxygen circulation
It also contains epicatechin, which boosts nitric oxide production in the blood, improves circulation, and reduces the amount of oxygen you use during moderate-intensity exercise.
This allows the athlete to maintain the intensity of the workout for longer.
Reduce stress
Stress is the main cause of many diseases, so eating a piece or two of dark chocolate daily will help you feel happy.
According to experts, after eating dark chocolate, you will feel a decrease in levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
It is also linked to the effects of dark chocolate on heart health, as stress is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Things to Keep in Mind When Eating Dark Chocolate
Experts say that when eating dark chocolate, there are a few things you should always know:
The higher the cocoa content, the more beneficial flavonols the chocolate contains. Only have one piece as a treat once in a while.
Always check the label to be aware of the calorie, fat and sugar content of the chocolate.
Be careful if you have heartburn or migraines, as chocolate can trigger these.
