7 Proven Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate: Chocolates are the most popular type of food because everyone likes them and wants to eat them. Chocolates are liked by almost everyone. Extra dark chocolate tastes both sweet and bitter, while dark chocolate is mostly bitter. Cocoa nuts are used to make it. To make it, you roast and grind cocoa and add fat and sugar to it while using less milk. This is also known as “black chocolate.” That’s because it has the most cocoa—between 70% and 99%.
7 Proven Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
1. How dark chocolate might help with cancer
Flavonoids and pentameric procyanidin, which come from cocoa, are antioxidants in dark chocolate that may help fight free radicals. They hurt cells through reactive stress and may also cause cancer. A study from 2005 by Keen CL et al. found that eating dark chocolate might help protect against different kinds of cancer and slow down the aging process.2 But more research needs to be done before we can say for sure that dark chocolate can help fight cancer. Having cancer is very bad for your health. So, get a good diagnosis and treatment; don’t try to help yourself.
2. Possible ways that dark chocolate can help your teeth
Dark chocolate is a delicious way to protect your face from the sun’s dangerous rays. Flavonols, which are antioxidants found in dark chocolate, protect your skin from UV rays and increase blood flow to it.
There’s a chemical in dark chocolate called theobromine that might help make tooth enamel stronger. It might help you keep your teeth clean and lower your risk of getting cavities. Theobromine may also help stop coughs by blocking the action of the vagus nerve, which is a nerve that makes you cough.1,2 But if you have problems with your mouth health, you should see a dentist and get a full check-up.
Also See:
3. How dark chocolate might help people with diabetes
Flavonoids and magnesium, which are found in dark chocolate, may help fight Type 2 diabetes. A study from 2005 by Grassi D et al. shows that it has flavonoids in it that might help lower insulin resistance. Flavonoids might help the cells work properly and get the body’s insulin to work again.
A low glycemic index may also be found in dark chocolate, which means it might not cause big jumps in blood sugar.2 But more tests with real people are needed to say for sure that dark chocolate can help fight diabetes. Diabetes is a dangerous illness, and you need to see a doctor right away.
4. Dark chocolate might be good for your blood pressure
Dark chocolate might be able to fight free radicals. It also has a substance called epicatechin in it, which may help lower blood pressure and improve the function of vascular cells. There was a study in 2014 by Lakshmana Rao et al. that showed epicatechin might help lower high blood pressure and damage to organs.
Dark chocolate also has flavanol in it, which may cause nitric oxide to be released and is a key factor in high blood pressure.1 But more study with real people is needed to say for sure that dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure. So, do what your doctor says and don’t use dark chocolate to treat yourself.
5. How dark chocolate might help your heart
By lowering the amount of C-reactive protein in the body, eating dark chocolate on a regular basis might help reduce inflammation. The vitamins and flavonoids in dark chocolate are also what make them good for reducing inflammation.
Some of the benefits of dark chocolate may be linked to lowering the risk of heart disease. Minerals like copper and potassium are in it, which may help protect against stroke. Flavanols, which are found in dark chocolate, may also lower the risk of atherosclerosis (artery stiffening).
Besides that, it might make arteries more flexible and keep white blood cells from sticking to blood vessels.2 But more research needs to be done before we can say for sure that dark chocolate can help with heart disease. If you are having heart problems, you should see a doctor instead of trying to treat them yourself.
6. Possible brain benefits of dark chocolate
Several studies have shown that having dark chocolate may improve blood flow to the brain and heart, which can help the brain do better. In addition, the chemicals in it that have boosting effects may be good for our brain health and happiness.
Dark chocolate, for instance, might have phenylethylamine in it, which might help endorphins come out and make you more aware. It also has caffeine, which is a mild stimulant that might help people who have mental problems.1,2 To find out how it can help people’s health, we need to do more study. If you’re having brain problems, you should see a doctor instead of trying to treat yourself.
7. Other Ways Dark Chocolate Could Be Used
In order to get the most health benefits from flavanols, dark chocolate should have at least 70% cocoa content. These flavanols are very important for their possible health benefits. But keep in mind that the taste tends to get bitterer as the cocoa percentage goes up.
Dark chocolate has a lot of iron, which could help people who don’t get enough iron.
1. Flavonoids, which are found in dark chocolate, may help reduce inflammation by acting as anti-inflammatory agents.
2. Flavonoids, which are found in dark chocolate, may help slow down the memory loss that comes with getting older.
3While studies have shown that dark chocolate might be useful in some situations, they are not enough to fully understand the health benefits of this treat. More research is needed to find out what those benefits are.
