Eating dark chocolate isn’t just good for the soul, it’s good for your health, too! Here are four benefits of dark chocolate!
1. It’s Highly Nutritious
What makes dark chocolate so nutritious compared to its milk chocolate counter part? It contains more of the original cocoa bean than milk chocolate. Milk chocolate is diluted with milk solids, sugar, and cream, making it an unfriendly choice for someone trying to eat healthier. Because dark chocolate contains more of the cocoa bean, it has a much better nutritional content.
Eating dark chocolate supplies your body with a variety of minerals. In dark chocolate you’ll find potassium, magnesium, iron, selenium and zinc. Dark chocolate also boasts a significant amount of soluble fiber!
2. It’s Loaded With Antioxidants
Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants! The two most prevalent are flavonols and polyphenols. The flavonols have been shown to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow which could help lower blood pressure. Some scientists are even starting to call the cocoa seed a “super fruit” because cocoa powder and dark chocolate have even more antioxidant activity than blue berries and acai berries among others.
3. It’s Heart Healthy
Dark chocolate is linked to reductions in LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. The flavonols in the dark chocolate are thought to slow cholesterol absorption. Overall, one study stated that dark chocolate was the cause of average reductions of 6.23 mg/dL in total cholesterol and 5.9 mg/dL in LDL. It’s also said that the saturated fat in chocolate is different from saturated fats that boost unhealthy cholesterol. This is because it’s made up of stearic acid which is thought to be a neutral saturated fat.
4. It Gives an Energy Boost
Theobromine is a naturally occurring compound found in the cocoa bean. It has a similar structure to caffeine, and consuming it will result in a small mental and physical energy boost! Its effects are often milder and longer-lasting than caffeine. Because dark chocolate contains more of the cocoa bean, you can expect much more of a boost from dark chocolate than milk chocolate.
So there you have it! Four excellent reasons to start eating dark chocolate. Next time you’re feeling a chocolate craving, skip the milk chocolate! Grab a Chocolate Squared bar instead!
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