You must have heard in your childhood from your parents “don’t eat chocolate or your teeth will decay“. That was so hurtful right. But not anymore. It’s time to prove that not all chocolates spoil your teeth and are unhealthy. Your parents would be surprised after knowing the magical health benefits of dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate might not be liked by children but is the choice of adults because of its bittersweet taste. Dark chocolate is a wholesome pack of nutrition and has marvelous health benefits. Well now you have one more reason to be a chocolate lover, but only if you are a dark chocolate lover rather than commercial milk chocolate.
Commercial milk chocolate is less healthy than dark chocolate and is the reason behind our parent’s resentment towards chocolate. Okay, parents are always right! The reason why dark chocolate is much better than milk chocolate is that actually dark chocolate consists of cacao, the main beneficial factor, and has less sugar. Whereas, commercial milk chocolate consists of more sugar and saturated fat, and less cacao.
Cacao is a plant, where chocolates come from. Cacao is excessively good for your health if consumed in the right proportion. In a day, dark chocolate can be consumed as much as 1-2 ounces which are around 30-60g. Okay now come on, Let’s discuss the amazing health benefits of dark chocolate which will amaze your parents.
Benefits of Eating Dark Chocolate
Dark Chocolates Reduces Depression Risk
If you like bitter taste and also facing a bitter phase then just eat dark chocolate. Mostly known health benefits of dark chocolate include less depression and stress.
Several conducted studies have shown that people who have eaten dark chocolate are less prone to depression compared to those who haven’t. Although results have also shown that milk chocolate does not play any role in coping up with depression.
In the modern lifestyle, depression has become a common issue. Every second person is suffering from it. You might or might not be comfortable consulting a therapist. Whereas medication and physical activities can be overwhelming sometimes in a busy life.
Dark chocolate is such an alternative that you surely crave for. Less depression means a great mood and a stronger will to do more. On the basis of investigation, you may feel less depressed in a span of 24 hours of eating dark chocolate.
Eating dark chocolate has many benefits, but smelling it too. The smell of dark chocolate increases brain waves, which trigger relaxation.
Dark Chocolate is Good for Heart Health
One of the health benefits of dark chocolate is that it is good for health. Dark chocolate has a vigorous amount of antioxidants which makes dark chocolate extensively beneficial for cardiovascular health. Every 100 grams of dark chocolate contains 10 ml of antioxidants which is more than any other food.
Flavanols and polyphenols, the antioxidants which fight against radicals and eliminate the risk of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is one of those factors which have an adverse effect on your heart health. Taking a daily dose of dark chocolate reduces bad cholesterol in the body which is another factor of heart-related diseases.
Dark Chocolate Benefits for Skin
Dark Chocolate is also one of the home remedies for wrinkles? Hard to believe right but that’s true. A delightful way to keep your skin healthy and glowing, eating dark chocolate. The flavonoid compound found in dark chocolate helps to boost the production of collagen in your body which is vital for having healthy skin.
Flavonoids also increase the blood flow which moisturizes your skin from the inside and shines outside. Dark chocolates have photoprotective properties which help to fight against UVB rays and protect from sun damage. The benefits of dark chocolate are a win-win deal for girls.
Dark Chocolate Controls Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
The Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that produce nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide tends to suppress the blood vessels and reduces blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause dizziness, nosebleed, headache, chest pain, fatigue, responsiveness, confusion, and severe issues such as heart failure.
Many types of research have shown that the consumption of dark chocolate helps to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL). Bad cholesterol clogs the arteries and increases the risk of heart-related issues. Polyphenols found in dark chocolate majorly help to lower down the bad cholesterol in the body. Dark chocolate can also minimize the risk of having a stroke as it promotes blood flow.
Dark Chocolate Improves Brain Functioning
Here’s another answer to the question “Why is dark chocolate good for you?” Dark chocolate is just not good but excellent for your brain health. Dark chocolate contains flavanols which increase the blood flow to the brain.
Antioxidants present in dark chocolate prevent brain cells from premature aging and include other health benefits such as enhancement of memory power and concentration power.
Dark chocolate also increases response time and problem-solving ability. Eating dark chocolate brings down the dependency on coffee for the caffeine. Dark chocolate is a full stock of caffeine and provides you energy to do more.
Dark Chocolate is Helpful for Diabetes.
This one is the most surprising out of all the health benefits of dark chocolate. Unlike other chocolates, you can eat dark chocolate even if you have diabetes and can please your craving by adding dark chocolate to your diabetes diet.
Studies have shown that people with diabetes who have eaten dark chocolate noticed an improvement in their health. Meanwhile milk chocolate turned out to be not beneficial for diabetes at all. There is an estimated amount of dark chocolate intake which is not more than 1 ounce.
Dark chocolate contains polyphenols that lower the blood sugar level and normalizes insulin sensitivity. This impacts diabetes in good ways.
The Bottom Line
You probably did not have expected that you could eat chocolate for its health benefits also and not just to satisfy your cravings. There is a wide range of benefits of dark chocolate but remember, anything should be eaten in a moderate amount.
Now, tell your parents about dark chocolate health benefits so that you can eat chocolate without any guilt. But yes you still gotta stop kids from eating too much chocolate as they won’t like dark chocolate and milk chocolate is not good for health and probably will decay their teeth.