Benefits Of Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health. It is made from the seed of the cocoa tree and it is one of the best sources of antioxidants. Studies show that dark chocolate can improve your health and lower the risk of heart disease.

Chocolate lovers rejoice when the benefits of antioxidants found in chocolate are talked about, but it’s important to realize that not all chocolate is created equal, not even close. The potential health benefits of processed, highly sweetened chocolate are slim to none, but the health benefits of dark chocolate are numerous and quite impressive.

1. It is Nutritious

If you buy dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, then it is having nutrition in it. It contains soluble fiber and is loaded with minerals. Of course, 100 grams is a large amount and not something you should be consuming daily. All these nutrients also come with approx of 600 calories and moderate amounts of sugar in it. For this reason, dark chocolate is best consumed in moderation. The fatty acid is also present in cocoa and dark chocolate. The fats are mostly saturated and monounsaturated, with small amounts of polyunsaturated fat.

2.Improved Heart Health

The compounds in dark chocolate appear to be highly protective against the oxidation of LDL. In the long term, this should cause much less cholesterol to lodge in the arteries, resulting in a lower risk of heart disease. In fact, several long-term observational studies show fairly drastic improvement. Flavanols are the main type of flavonoid found in dark chocolate. According to research, it is shown that flavanols have a very positive effect on the heart by helping lower blood pressure. It also improves blood flow to the heart as well as the brain.

3. Helps in Cancer Prevention

It is hard to believe, but the tasty dark chocolate you eat and love may also help you ward off cancer. You heard right one of the benefits of dark chocolate is it acts as a cancer-fighting food.

4.Antioxidant

ORAC stands for “oxygen radical absorbance capacity.” It is a measure of the antioxidant activity of foods. Dark chocolate is loaded with organic compounds that are functioned as antioxidants. These include polyphenols, flavanols, and catechins, among others. One study showed that cocoa and dark chocolate had more antioxidant activity, polyphenols, and flavanols than any other fruits tested, which included blueberries and acai berries.

5. Protects Your Skin From the Harmful Sun

The bioactive compounds in dark chocolate can be great for your skin. The flavonols protect us against sun damage, improve blood flow to the skin and increase skin density by preventing hydration. The minimal erythemal dose is the minimum amount of UVB rays required to cause redness in the skin 24 hours after exposure. If you're planning especially for a beach vacation, carry dark chocolate in the prior weeks and months.