Can Dark Chocolate Really Keep the Doctor Away? Miracle Or Myth!?
Dark Chocolate:
Indulging in chocolate does not have to be a bad thing. Once you know what the benefits are to eating dark chocolate, you will never feel guilty again. Next time you have a chocolate craving, reach for a slab of dark chocolate because you will be making a healthy choice.
Darker chocolates do have health benefits, but what is the main one? Dark chocolate has been proven to be a powerful source of antioxidants. Tests have been done on a number of different food products to decipher whether or not they are a good source of antioxidants. Cocoa beans, happen to be one of the highest-scoring sources of antioxidants.
Some of the antioxidants that have been found in dark chocolate are:
- Polyphenols.
- Flavanols.
- Catechins.
Dark chocolate at one time was put on the corner shelves since it was only considered a delicacy for an elite few. However, increasing studies show the health-giving benefits of dark chocolate.
The fact that most of the health benefits of dark chocolate have been supported by various studies done not only by major chocolate manufacturers but also independently indicates that there is some truth that dark chocolate is indeed good for health.
Yes,
believe it or not, there are good things we can get from consuming black chocolates. But before you go to your nearest chocolate store, heed the following first and see for yourself. Chocolate is actually made from plants. This simply means that it may contain many good health benefits of dark veggies. The benefits included came from a certain element that acts out as antioxidants.
These, in turn, protect our body from aging very fast because of free radicals which eventually cause damages that can lead to heart disease. Antioxidants, about 8 times the number that is found on strawberries, are actually present in dark chocolates.
The Elements Flavonoids,
That produces antioxidants that can also help our blood pressure to relax by means of producing nitric oxide, and then balance certain hormones in our body too. This will show that dark chocolates are also good for our hearts. In fact, a small bar of it eaten daily can help our heart and the cardiovascular system to run well.
There are,
Various health benefits of eating dark chocolate. The key ingredient that makes all the difference in dark chocolate is the high level of cocoa that remains in it after processing. The problem is that most manufacturers remove most of the cocoa during the manufacturing process and replace it with milk solids, sugar, and other additives.
The heating process negates the positive effects of cocoa to a great extent. Dark chocolate can taste bittersweet, but the positive effects of this cocoa-laden delicacy could be sweet music to your ears. One of its miracle properties is the ability to reduce blood pressure.
In Several Studies,
Dark chocolate has lowered high blood pressure in many participants. That is great news and while chocolate is enjoyable to eat it is also a lot healthier than prescription drugs. Remember, though, that you can’t just eat all the chocolate you want.
You can eat some and if you have mild high blood pressure and are of a certain age then dark chocolate will more than likely help you. But, you must balance your caloric intake and know that if you are eating dark chocolate that you will need to cut calories elsewhere.
Here’s The Most Health Benefits of Eating Dark Chocolate:
Nutrients:
Dark chocolate is a very high source of fiber that helps the digestive system to digest food in an efficient manner, iron, magnesium which in addition helps to reduce blood pressure, also helps to reduce diabetes, stroke, and osteoporosis., and copper. The darker the chocolate the more nutrients it will have in it. It is best to eat the 70-85% cocoa content. Quality dark chocolate is rich in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, and a few other minerals.
To illustrate the health benefits that can be taken from eating dark chocolates, let us look at this:
1. Antioxidants:
Dark chocolate has antioxidants. However, you must eat it alone. Don’t accompany the dark chocolate with a big glass of milk or else you will eliminate the antioxidant effect.
- Antioxidants are great because they attack and eliminate free radicals, the culprits of many diseases including heart disease.
- A study with 13 individuals ages 55-64 who had mild high blood pressure took part in a study.
- Half were given a 100-gram dark chocolate candy bar and the other half a 100-gram white chocolate candy bar.
- They had to eliminate 480 other calories from their diet to make up for eating the chocolate.
- Over the course of the two-week study, the individuals who ate dark chocolate saw a significant drop in their blood pressure.
- In fact, the average was five systolic points and two diastolic points.
The individuals who ate white chocolate did not see the same results.
Another Study,
Used the same amount of people but in the 25-35 age range. They ate 100 grams of dark chocolate one day, 100 grams of dark chocolate with a small glass of milk another day, and finally 200 grams of milk chocolate. The study found that eating dark chocolate by itself results in the most total antioxidants in the blood.
Many of us prefer milk chocolate to dark chocolate because it is smoother, sweeter, and not as bitter. But, it is dark chocolate that makes a health difference and it is still sweet and good.
So,
Why is dark chocolate the answer?
It’s because it contains cocoa phenols, which lower blood pressure.
- If you want to try this remedy then cut out bad things in your diet like colas, carnival foods, and the like to make up for the 500 plus calories in a bar of chocolate.
- Then you can have your chocolate and enjoy the cardiovascular benefits!
- Remember to take good care of your teeth as well when eating all that chocolate because tooth health has a direct connection to cardiovascular health.
2. Anti-inflammatory Molecules:
Aside from having natural antioxidants, researchers have also shown that dark chocolates contain anti-inflammatory molecules that can really cool off inflammation, they also have the capacity to reduce weight and even the symptoms of body fatigue. It has been researched also that those who love milk chocolates can replace them with dark ones so that the serotonin level of our brain will be improved.
There are various levels of cocoa present in dark chocolate and if possible, you should choose the one with the maximum cocoa content, since it has higher benefits as compared to chocolate with lower levels of cocoa. The downside is that cocoa in its unsweetened form is quite bitter, and hence you will need to balance out between taste and benefits.
3. Help to Lose Weight:
Although dark chocolates contain high calories and fat, once it is taken properly, they can also help our attempt to lose weight. This is because some of the fats in chocolate do not have any impact on our cholesterol level.
The actual fats in dark chocolates are as follows:
- Palmitic acid, which is 1/3, is a saturated fat that when taken in excess could raise cholesterol and the risk of having heart disease.
- Oleic acid, which is 1/3, is actually a monounsaturated fat that is also present in olive oil.
- Stearic acid, which is also 1/3, is a saturated fat but then research has shown that it has an effect that is neutral on cholesterol.
To sum these facts up, only 1/3 of the actual fat in the dark chocolates you take is bad for you. That, to some weight loss fanatics, is good news. Imagine continuing your diet even if you are taking dark chocolates? What could be better than that?
4. Produces Endorphin:
Another thing is that dark chocolates also offer benefits apart from the ones mentioned above. It tastes good, it can stimulate the production of endorphin (this gives us a feeling of pleasure), it contains theobromine and other substances that can be stimulants also, like caffeine.
This doesn’t mean that you can actually indulge and eat a pound of chocolate every day. We still have to remember that it is still a high-fat and high-calorie food.
For Instance,
One delicious bar of chocolate actually has around 400 calories, now, if you eat a half bar of it, you must exert all efforts to balance the 200 calories you have eaten by eating less of other things that caused fat. You must cut all the other sweet intakes that you normally do.
Balance is Bliss:
You see, balance is still the key. And if you will have a go at it, always prefer the dark chocolates over the others. Since they have cocoas, which are indeed healthy and good for us, plus the other good things mentioned above, dark chocolate can give you health benefits than the other types of chocolates.
5. Anti-Aging:
Stress is the culprit that causes aging. Stress could be internal, too. Without you knowing it, the vital organs could be stressed out. You only suspect something is wrong when you see the physical signs or feel something is not right with your eyesight, skin, and nails. The cells age fast because of oxidation.
Oxidation occurs when a substance gets in contact with oxygen. Metals rust because of oxidation. It’s a different story with the internal organs of the body. Instead of rusting, the cells become ineffective and do not function properly to transport nourishment to the heart and other body organs. When they are deprived of nourishment, the vital body organs break down. Your skin begins to show wrinkles and other aging problems.
Antioxidants retard the aging process,
How? In simple terms, these substances keep cells healthy and reproduce regularly to replace aging cells. The levels of antioxidants in dark chocolates are sufficient to keep these cells elastic. Elastic cells easily transport the nutrients needed by the body organs. When cells are healthy, they keep the skin supple and younger-looking.
6. Good For Joints:
Healthy cells have an impact on the health of your joints. The aches and discomfort of lifting an arm or just wiggling your toes can be unbearable if your muscles are in a sad state. If left untreated, this could lead to further joint and muscle problems. Including moderate amounts of unsweetened or lightly sweetened dark chocolate in your diet will keep your joints and muscles going.
7. Reduces The Risk of Cardiovascular Disease:
Some studies have shown that eating high cocoa chocolate on a regular basis can decrease the chances of heart disease. This is due to the fact that higher cocoa percentage chocolates have compounds that are highly protective against the oxidation of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol.
8. Increased Brainpower:
Dark chocolate has been shown to increase the blood flow to your brain due to the antioxidants found in it. Helping you to concentrate for longer. The next time you are studying consider snacking on nuts and a high percentage of dark chocolate to increase your brainpower.
9. Protects Your Skin From The Sun:
A research carried out in London found that people who ate dark chocolate for three months, took twice as long for their skin to redden when exposed to UV, compared to those who ate none. This is due to the flavonoids contained in dark chocolate that increase blood flow to the skin, improving skin complexion but also protecting it.
How Much Dark Chocolate to Consume:
Dark chocolate is still chocolate – it is high-calorie and high-fat. Dark and light simply have relatively more or less amounts. A small dose of dark chocolate, say no more than 100 grams, each day or every other day, to get the flavonoids, if you must, should be enough. More will be counter-productive. All studies testing the benefits have involved a daily consumption of less than this amount.
And remember to balance out the calorie intake by cutting out other snacks. (People on antidepressant medication which contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors should proceed with caution, as they are advised to avoid tyramine, which is a chemical in chocolate.)
However,
Chocolate is a multifaceted food with over 300 compounds and chemicals in each bite. There are four “dosage” recommendations of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate:
- 6.3 g (30 calories) per day, about the size of a Hershey’s Kiss morsel
- 6.7 grams of chocolate per day, the equivalent of a small square of chocolate two or three times a week.
- No more than 25 grams, or 2.5 squares of dark chocolate, a day.
- Up to 1 serving (20 g) of dark chocolate every 3 days.
Side Effect of Eating a Large Amount of Dark Chocolate:
Cause that cocoa contains caffeine and related chemicals. Eating large amounts might cause caffeine-related side effects such as nervousness, increased urination, sleeplessness, and a fast heartbeat. Cocoa can cause allergic skin reactions, constipation, and might trigger migraine headaches.
The Bottom Line:
Dark chocolate does have many health benefits and should definitely be a part of your lifestyle, it is important to remember that a healthy balance is required to balance out the high calories in dark chocolate by eating other healthy foods, in order to maintain a healthy calorie intake.
Thus, dark chocolate is indeed a bittersweet miracle that if taken wisely can truly benefit your body and mind.
Note:
If you’re pregnant or know someone who is, keep in mind that blood pressure rises during pregnancy. A little piece of dark healthy chocolate during pregnancy is a good thing because it can help regulate blood pressure.
Drinking cocoa had the same effect as eating it, opening up a whole world of possibilities. You can get your healthy cocoa in many ways, dark chocolate for heart health is available in drinks, snacks and chunk form.
If you find this article useful, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family, as you might help someone in need. Thanks.
Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”
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