Health Benefits of Dark Chocolates
October 17th, 2019
Even though there are different types of chocolates available in the market, dark chocolate is known to be healthiest one as it known to give several benefits. Dark chocolate is rich in minerals, for instance, zinc, magnesium, and iron. The cocoa in dark chocolate also includes antioxidants known as flavonoids, which may offer quite a few health benefits.
Chocolate comes from cacao plant which is known to have high levels of antioxidants and minerals. Commercial milk chocolate includes sugar, cocoa butter, milk, and little quantities of cacao. On the contrary, dark chocolate has much larger amounts of cacao and less sugar than milk chocolate.
Listed below are some of the health benefits of dark chocolate:
- Antioxidants
Dark chocolate comprises several compounds that have antioxidant properties, for instance, polyphenols and flavanols. Antioxidants counteract free radicals and stop oxidative stress. Oxidative stress refers to the harm that extreme amounts of free radicals can cause on cells and tissues within the body.
- Blood pressure
The flavanols in dark chocolate arouse nitric oxide production in the body. Nitric oxide causes blood vessels to widen or dilate which enhances blood flow and lowers blood pressure.
- Cholesterol
Dark chocolate also includes certain compounds, such as theobromine and polyphenols that might lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the body and add to levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Doctors often state LDL cholesterol as “bad cholesterol” and HDL cholesterol as “good cholesterol.”
- Heart disease risk
Eating dark chocolate regularly may lessen a person’s possibility of developing heart disease. Some of the compounds in dark chocolate, especially flavanols, affect two major risk factors for heart disease: high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
- Anti-inflammatory effects
Inflammation is part of the body’s natural immune response to germs and other damaging substances. But, chronic inflammation can harm cells and tissues and might increase the risk of some health conditions, such as arthritis, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
Dark chocolate contains compounds with anti-inflammatory properties that might assist decrease inflammation in the body.
- Brain function
Eating dark chocolate may enhance brain function and assist stop neurodegenerative conditions, for instance Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The flavanols present in dark chocolate might enhance neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorder itself, especially in response to disease and injury.
- Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance takes place when the body’s cells stop replying to the hormone insulin. Insulin resistance can cause unusually high levels of blood glucose, which can result in pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.
The health benefits of dark chocolate come mainly from the flavanols present in the cacao solids. But, flavanol content differs among dark chocolate products. Processing methods also vary between manufacturers, and this can affect the flavanol content of the chocolate. There is no lawful requirement for chocolate manufacturers to report the flavanol content in their products. But, dark chocolate products with a higher percentage of cacao solids should usually contain more flavanols.
Thus, there are many reasons that explain why you should invest on luxury chocolate gifts.
Buy the dark chocolate gifts for her or your loved one from the online shopping portal now and gift them not only yummy but healthy delights.