Why You Should Indulge In Dark Chocolate Every Day?
Dark chocolate gets a bad rap, but it shouldn’t! There are many health benefits of dark chocolate and it can be an excellent part of a healthy diet. Dark chocolate has been shown to have anti-ageing properties, as well as increase heart health and lower blood pressure. Plus, it tastes great! Here are five reasons why you should indulge in dark chocolate every day.
Dark Chocolate Is Rich In Antioxidants
Antioxidants are chemicals that protect your body from damage caused by free radicals, which come from environmental sources, but they can also be created within your own body. Free radicals are associated with diseases such as cancer and heart disease. In dark chocolate’s favour, it has been shown to reduce bad LDL cholesterol and raise good HDL cholesterol—two markers of cardiovascular health. Compared to milk chocolate, dark chocolate contains twice as much antioxidant activityCenforce 100. So while you’re indulging yourself with a few pieces of your favourite brand of dark chocolate each day, you’re also helping to protect your cardiovascular system.
Antioxidants Help Control Heart Disease
Recent research suggests that chemicals called flavanols found in dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure, increase good cholesterol and improve heart health. According to a study from Harvard University, participants who ate dark chocolate had lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker linked to cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating dark chocolate led to an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)—known as good cholesterol—in overweight men and women. Bottom line: Consuming even small amounts of dark chocolate daily may help protect against heart disease.
Dark Chocolate Contains Fibre
Did you know that dark chocolate contains three times as much fibre as milk chocolate? The primary reason why dark chocolate contains more fibre than other varieties is that it’s less processed. It’s also typically higher in cocoa content, which naturally contains several beneficial antioxidants and healthful properties. When shopping for dark chocolate, check out brands that are made with at least 70% cocoa content for optimal health benefits. Most often, you’ll find pure dark chocolate sold as bars or cacao nibs.
Cocoa Controls Blood Pressure
Evidence suggests that people with elevated blood pressure can benefit from eating dark chocolate. One study, conducted by researchers at the Finland’s University of Eastern Finland, looked at 45 adults with hypertension and high cholesterol who ate either 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of dark chocolate or white chocolate every day for four weeks. The study showed that participants who ate a bar of dark chocolate per day experienced a decrease in blood pressure after just four weeks while those who ate white chocolate did not experience any change in blood pressure levels. Researchers attributed these findings to flavonoids called epicatechin and catechin, which are both found naturally in cocoa beans and may be responsible for boosting nitric oxide production and improving vascular function—two things that help keep your blood flowing smoothly. A bonus?
Cocoa Helps Keep Teeth Healthy
While a Hershey’s bar might be delicious, it’s not good for your teeth. To keep tooth enamel healthy, you should eat at least two servings of dark chocolate every day. However, many studies have suggested that cocoa can reverse tooth decay. That’s because cocoa beans contain flavanols—compounds with a protective effect on tooth enamel. And because cocoa isn’t sweet and doesn’t contain sugar, it can be part of an effective oral care plan for those who are watching their weight or blood sugar levels. This is particularly true if you buy dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate. What are some other health benefits? Although dark chocolate has long been associated with better health outcomes overall, most research to date has focused on its positive effects on cardiovascular health fildena 150. One large-scale study from Denmark showed that men who ate 100 grams of cocoa daily had a reduced risk of heart attack by about 40 per cent over five years. The amount used in the study was equivalent to about 5 ounces (150 grams) per week. Other research suggests that eating one or two small pieces of dark chocolate every day could reduce stroke risk by as much as 30 per cent over 10 years.
