Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

If you're a certified chocolate lover, then you'll be happy to know that the health benefits of dark chocolate are many. After all, pure chocolate comes from a dark plant, cocoa, and has many of the benefits of other dark vegetables, such as a high count of antioxidants and flavonoids. In fact, dark chocolate has eight times the amount of antioxidants than strawberries. So sit back, munch on some dark chocolate and read the following overview of its great benefits.

Dark chocolate is actually very good for your heart. Many doctors and nutritionists even recommend that their heart patients eat one small bar of dark chocolate daily to keep their cardiovascular systems running well.

There are two main ways that dark chocolate helps your heart:

1. Lowers blood pressure: time and time again, studies show dark chocolate significantly lowers blood pressure of those diagnosed with high blood pressure.
2. Lowers cholesterol: dark chocolate has been proven to lower LDL cholesterol, the "bad" kind of cholesterol by up to ten percent in some individuals.

As aforementioned, dark chocolate is chocked full of antioxidants and flavonoids. These compounds are very important as they cleanse our bodies of dangerous free radicals, which are encouraged to develop when eating refined sugars and other processed foods. Numerous studies and experts firmly believe that foods high in flavonoids and antioxidants, like dark chocolate, do the following:

• Prevent cancer
• Detoxify body, contributing to overall better health
• Slow down the aging process
• Prevent a whole host of other chronic, life threatening conditions such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes

In addition to preventing chronic illness and being healthy for your heart, dark chocolate also makes you feel good. One way it makes you feel good is simply from the way it tastes – most people think it's delicious! However, dark chocolate also stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure and contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant.

Some people report that the feel good benefits of dark chocolate are incredibly strong and immediate upon consumption. A significantly large group of people also swear that dark chocolate is one of the best aphrodisiacs available, however this has not been tested.

Dark chocolate is still chocolate – and it does have a high fat content. However, the majority of the types of fat in dark chocolate are actually healthy for you.

Oleic Acid

Dark chocolate is one third oleic acid, and this is a healthy monounsaturated fat. It's the same type of fat that is found in olive oil.

Stearic Acid

Dark chocolate is also one third stearic acid. This is a saturated fat, but it has a neutral effect on cholesterol and does not increase the risk of heart disease.

If you're still munching on that dark chocolate while reading this, then it's probably time to put that bar down. Dark chocolate is still high in fat and calories. If you eat too much of it, all its health benefits will be outweighed by the negative repercussions of eating too much fat and calories. The health benefits of dark chocolate apply for about 3.5 ounces or just one small bar of the chocolate a day.

Absolutely none of the benefits of dark chocolate are the same for milk chocolate or white chocolate. Only buy pure dark chocolate. As good as they may taste, dark chocolates with nougats, caramel or other fillings are not healthy for you. The calories, fat, refined sugars and crèmes in these types of chocolates will out weight the benefits of the dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate has many benefits and is actually considered a health food. However, this is only true when it's consumed in moderation; eat a small amount of pure dark chocolate daily to reap the health benefits.

• What Can I Eat On a Detox Diet
• Top Ten Worst Foods
• Fruits and Vegetables that Lower Blood Pressure
• How To Detoxify Your Body Naturally
• Fast Food Statistics

• The Lemonade Diet
• Weight Watchers Points Calculators
• 1200 Calorie Menus
• Weight Watchers Points
• Weight Watchers Restaurant Points

• Category:Nutrition and Healthy Eating
• Fruit and Vegetable Diet
• MUFA Diet
• Is There a Diet for Blocked Arteries