Dark chocolate is good for you. It can help lower your blood pressure and the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Dark chocolate also contains antioxidants that may help prevent cell damage from free radicals: important for your body’s overall health as well as looking young!
If you love dark chocolate but don’t want to give up the sweet taste when it comes to adding nutrients to your diet, this article will provide some tips on how to incorporate dark chocolate into a healthy lifestyle.
Very nutritious
Dark chocolate is a great source of minerals, which are essential for many bodily functions. Magnesium, iron, copper and manganese are all found in dark chocolate. Dark chocolate can also be a good source of antioxidants.
Dark chocolate has a large concentration of flavonoids (or catechins), which are plant compounds that have antioxidant properties and may help prevent heart disease by reducing blood pressure and improving blood circulation. Flavonoids also act as anti-inflammatory agents to reduce swelling or irritation in the body’s tissues.
Powerful source of antioxidants
If you’re looking for a powerful source of antioxidants, dark chocolate is a great choice. Antioxidants are good for your health because they can help to protect your body from damage caused by free radicals. In addition to reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease, dark chocolate has been shown to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol while also improving cognitive function in older adults.
May improve blood flow and lower blood pressure
Dark chocolate can be one of the most satisfying and delicious ways to get your daily dose of antioxidants. Antioxidants help improve blood flow, thereby helping to lower blood pressure. They also help reduce inflammation and prevent LDL (bad) cholesterol from collecting in arteries, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Dark chocolate is also a good source of iron, which helps red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. This helps you feel energized throughout the day without experiencing an energy crash after eating something sugary or starchy—like that donut you might have had for breakfast!
Raises HDL and protects LDL from oxidation
The good HDL cholesterol that is raised by dark chocolate helps to reduce the amount of bad LDL cholesterol in your body. LDL can be oxidized when it is exposed to free radicals and other oxidative stressors, which can cause inflammation and increase your risk of heart disease. In contrast, dark chocolate contains antioxidants that prevent your LDL from oxidizing, thereby lowering the risk of heart disease.
Reduce the risk of diabetes
One of the main benefits of dark chocolate is that it can help reduce your risk of diabetes. Diabetes is a condition in which your body has trouble regulating blood glucose levels, which can lead to complications such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants that help lower oxidative stress on the body. Oxidative stress occurs when our bodies are exposed to free radicals (unstable molecules) which cause damage to our cells and tissues over time. The damage caused by free radicals increases inflammation in our bodies, leading to many diseases including cancer and diabetes. Dark chocolate helps reduce this oxidative stress on the body by increasing antioxidant activity throughout all organs including the liver, kidneys, brain and muscles.
May reduce heart disease risk
Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, a type of antioxidant. Antioxidants counter free radicals, which are molecules that can damage cells and cause chronic diseases such as heart disease when they accumulate in the body.
Dark chocolate is also a source of magnesium, which plays an important role in blood pressure regulation and muscle function. In one study conducted by researchers at Brigham Young University (BYU), participants who consumed dark chocolate daily for a month showed lower blood pressure readings compared to those who ate milk chocolate (the control group). The scientists believe that the magnesium content may be responsible for this effect; more studies need to look into this possibility.
May protect your skin from the sun
Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which are antioxidants that help protect your skin from the sun. A study found that people who ate dark chocolate had more vitamin C in their skin than people who did not eat dark chocolate.
The main types of flavonoid compounds in cocoa are procyanidins and catechins. These compounds are also found in berries, green tea, red wine, and a few vegetables including onions and apples. These flavonoids have been shown to have several health benefits including reducing blood pressure and helping prevent heart disease due to their antioxidant properties (1).
Could improve brain function
You might not think of dark chocolate as a brain food, but it contains a chemical called flavonoids that act as antioxidants. Antioxidants can help protect the brain from free radical damage, which can lead to age-related cognitive decline and memory loss. Dark chocolate is also rich in cocoa flavanols, another type of antioxidant that has been shown to improve blood flow to the brain by dilating blood vessels (the same way exercise does). This means that dark chocolate could help increase oxygen and nutrients for neurons throughout your brain—and making you smarter!
Prevention for cancer
There is strong evidence that dark chocolate can reduce the risk of cancer. A study published in Frontiers in Nutrition, a peer-reviewed journal, shows that dark chocolate contains compounds that have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. Dark chocolate also contains antioxidants (such as flavonoids and polyphenols) which reduce the risk of cancer by preventing DNA damage and cell mutations. However, not all types of dark chocolate are created equal—if you choose to eat it at all—so make sure to buy organic varieties for maximum health benefit!
Good for Gut and may help weight loss
Dark chocolate is good for your gut. Dark chocolate contains fiber and has been shown to increase feelings of fullness by reducing appetite and helping you feel less hungry. This makes it a great snack option if you’re trying to lose weight, since it can help curb cravings and keep you feeling fuller longer.
Dark chocolate may also have some beneficial effects on the microbiome, which is the community of bacteria that resides in your digestive tract. Studies show that dark chocolate consumption can improve both intestinal microbiota diversity as well as balance between beneficial and harmful gut bacteria.
Wrapping up
Dark chocolate is a great source of antioxidants and flavonoids. This makes it especially beneficial for your heart, which can lead to better overall health and lower the risk of disease. Dark chocolate may help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer.
Dark chocolate also contains compounds that may help protect your skin from sun damage. These compounds are called flavonoids, which are found in many fruits and vegetables as well as beverages such as green tea and red wine. The flavonoids in dark chocolate help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules). Free radicals can lead to premature aging or even skin cancer if they damage too many cells over time.
