Chocolate is a guilty pleasure that we all crave. But, did you know that the chocolate squares you like to pop into your mouth are beneficial for your health? There are three types of chocolates commercially available on the global market, dark chocolates (80 per cent cocoa beans), milk chocolates (90 per cent milk fats with sugar and 10 per cent cocoa solids), and white chocolates (milk, cocoa butter, and sugar only), according to a study published in Antioxidants and Redox Signalling, 2022.

Which one of these is good for health? The darker, the better, say clinical studies. As per the 2017 Frontiers of Nutrition journal, dark chocolates (up to 80 per cent cocoa solids) contain flavonoids, magnesium, iron, caffeine, and zinc when consumed in limited amounts have several health benefits such as reduction in blood pressure and risk of heart diseases.

 

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Here are the benefits of dark chocolate:

1. Dark Chocolate Is Rich In Antioxidants

Dark chocolate is one of the most nourishing and satisfying snacks you can find when looking for a treat. A 2011 study issued in the Antioxidants and Redox Signalling concludes that cocoa contains phenolic antioxidants more than other foodstuffs that protect the body from free-radical oxidation responses.

 

2. Dark Chocolate Controls Blood Sugar

Consuming dark chocolate in certain amounts is known to control blood sugar levels. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspective, states that ingesting dark chocolate improved insulin sensitivity in type II diabetic patients by changing glucose metabolism and lowering oxidative stress, the main reasons for insulin resistance.

 

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3. Dark Chocolate Boosts Cognitive Performance

Dark chocolate accelerates blood flow to the brain which helps to improve cognitive function and memory. A 2014 review article, Journal of Advanced Drug Delivery, India, concluded that the chemical composition in dark chocolate has caffeine (lower than coffee) which acts as a stimulant on the brain and helps in being alert and active.

 

4. Dark Chocolate Reduces Stress And Depression

Having a piece of dark chocolate can instantly lift your mood and enhance your well-being. This is something we all have experienced when we are feeling low or stressed. Chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), PEA promotes the brain to release endorphins (natural painkillers). This helps in improving mood, fighting stress and anxiety.

 

5. Dark Chocolate Reduces Cardiovascular Conditions

According to a 2017 meta-analysis of ten thousand people with cardiovascular and stroke conditions in Frontiers in Nutrition, it was revealed that occurrence of stroke and other cardiovascular events reduced to 85 per cent in those who consumed dark chocolates every day.

 

6. Dark Chocolate Is Good For Skin

Cocoa contains antioxidants that help repair sun-damaged skin and premature ageing. Also, cocoa butter has good fats (theobroma) and Vitamin E, which nourish and heal the skin.

 

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Healthy No-Bake Dark Chocolate Fudge Recipe