Chocolate has been studied for decades, and has proven to be a wise choice for better health. Each bite contains a dense source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and nutrition, as well as offering you plenty of happy triggers for your brain.
Here are 15 incredible health benefits of chocolate:
- It’s Full of Antioxidant Power
One of the only dessert foods that contain plenty of antioxidants is chocolate, making it an essential for healthy cells. Free radical damage can cause diseases such as heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s, and the antioxidants in chocolate help to reduce free radical damage.
- It Combats Depression
A unique chemical response, known as anandamide occurs in your brain when you eat chocolate, which helps to combat feelings of anxiety, pain and depression. This feeling offers a gentle, yet euphoric high that tickles every cell in your body into a happier state.
- It Boosts Your Energy
Caffeine and theobromine are two compounds that chocolate offers to gently boost your energy. These two substances also help to make your mind more alert as well as giving your nerves a slightly elevated response for better physical and cognitive performance.
- It Keeps your Blood Healthy
Thick, clotted and slow moving blood can cause strokes, diabetes and heart disease, and chocolate helps to prevent this. It contains flavonols and polyphenols which help to reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure and improve circulation.
- It Gives You Healthier Skin
In order for skin to remain toned and supple it needs a steady supply of everything that chocolate offers: healthy fats, antioxidants and tons of minerals. By eating more chocolate you will be reducing the visible signs of ageing, as well as nurturing your skin from the inside out.
- It Promotes Healthy Teeth
It is true that sugar leads to tooth decay, but cocoa contains excellent anti-bacterial compounds that help to reduce plaque buildup in your mouth. Pair cocoa with warm milk for the ultimate calcium rich, tooth strengthening elixir!
- It Prevents Cravings
Chocolate can be extremely satiating, preventing cravings of sugary junk food. By giving your body the exact satisfaction that it needs without busting the calorie bank you will be supporting a healthy figure.
- It Relieves Constipation
Chocolate and pure cocoa are high in soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, which has proven to relieve constipation, eliminate excess waste and rid your body of harmful toxin buildup.
- It Improves Longevity
Studies have revealed chocolate’s powerful effect on longevity, both for its antioxidant and iron-rich value. Every 100 grams contains 44% iron, which boosts oxygen flow in your body and literally gives your cells and organs more life.
- It Contains Essential B-Vitamins
The most common cause of B12 deficiencies are stress and a diet void of animal products, which makes chocolate an excellent supplement to avoid the fatigue associated with it. Chocolate contains plenty of essential B-vitamins, which help to keep your blood, bones, nerves and brain in peak form.
- It Contains Healthy Fats
66% of the fats that chocolate contains are classified as healthy fats, and one in particular is oleic acid. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fat which is also common in seeds and olive oil, and has been proven to balance cholesterol, protect vital organs from excess acidity and regulate hormones.
- It Protects Your Eyesight
Chocolate contains a gentle dose of Vitamin A, which is excellent for eye health as it prevents macular degeneration and night blindness. It also contains antioxidants which help to fight free radical damage caused by the sun’s harmful UV rays, keeping your eyesight sharp and clear.
- It Reduces Blood Pressure
Hypertension can be a challenge to manage, and chocolate is an excellent supporter. It contains low doses of sodium, which helps to prevent pressure spikes, as well as excellent doses of potassium and magnesium, which work together to balance blood pressure.
- It’s a Good Source of Protein
In order to maintain and build excellent muscle tone our bodies rely on a steady supply of amino acids, otherwise known as protein. Chocolate offers up to 9% of the daily recommended amount of protein per 100 grams, making it an excellent source of strength and vitality for tissues and muscles.
- It Improves Sex Drive
Once known as ‘the food of the gods’, chocolate has been revered as a natural aphrodisiac for thousands of years. It has been proven to trigger endorphins and serotonin in the brain, which improve sex drive and overall pleasure.
