Gone are the days when people felt guilty after eating a single scoop of dark chocolate. For long, chocolate has been treated as guilty pleasure despite the fact that it is obtained from plants only. Dark chocolate is even more helpful for health. If you are looking for the healthiest chocolate, try dark chocolate that gives a flavor like that of coffee. Here are some of the major benefits of eating chocolates and tips that can keep you healthy.
1. Lowering Blood Pressure
Many studies have revealed the fact that dark chocolates can be very helpful in controlling blood pressure. Anyone suffering from high blood pressure issues is advised to eat a bite of dark chocolate every day. The cocoa phenol present in them lowers blood pressure to normal. Moreover, it is found that chocolate made in Europe has high cocoa phenols. So ensure to eat dark chocolates every day.
2. Help in reducing free radicals
Chocolates contain a good amount of potent antioxidants. It is good to have food rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants benefit the body by negating the free radicals floating in the body, hence, reducing the chances of any heart issues. Try to avoid drinking milk while eating dark chocolate because milk is responsible for impairing the body’s absorption of different antioxidants. So in short, doing this will negate the most important benefit of dark chocolates.
3. Aids in blood flow
Most of us know that blood platelets are crucial for stopping bleeding and they group together to stop the blood by plugging the area. But sometimes these platelets club together without any reason and result into forming blood clots which are responsible for heart attacks and other related issues. You would be amazed to know that dark chocolate helps in proper blood flow and even reduces the chances of any such blood clot formation.
4. Acts as a stimulant
Pleasure is always good for health and chocolates are eaten for pleasure. Having a limited amount of chocolate per day can help in reducing mental stress and ease your nerves, but avoid eating too many per day. It has been shown in research that dark chocolate is responsible for the production of endorphins which is a chemical associated with natural pleasure. In addition to it, chocolates have serotonin which is used for antidepressant purposes. There are different compounds in it that helps in boosting up your energy and make you alert at the same time.
5. Provide Healthy Fats
Generally, we associate chocolate with fats and calories; chocolate contains some healthy fats too. The fat composition of chocolate is decided by three chemicals: stearic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. Out of these 3 acids, two are good for your health and hence it is really great to have dark chocolate occasionally. Oleic acid is also found in olive oil as well and this type of fat is good for your body and stearic acid is not a saturated fatty acid without any harm to your body. Only the palmitic acid which is an unsaturated fatty acid is the one that can elevate the level of cholesterol. Moreover dark chocolates are often found helpful in chronic problems which make them even more beneficial.
Now, you have an idea of the benefits of dark chocolate can provide. Keep in mind that these changes are alone not the game changers and provide small benefits. Still. what matters is the benefit to your body and these can make a difference in your overall efforts to have a better and healthy lifestyle. We have discussed all the major benefits of the dark chocolates but keep in mind that despite of these benefits, dark chocolates are a great source of sugar as well as fats. What is important is the amount and level of consumption and having chocolate at a moderated amount is really beneficial to you. So add small amount of dark chocolate in your daily diet and consume it for your better health.