Dark chocolate isn’t just a delicious type of chocolate. It is also rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for your health. Dark chocolate comes from the seed of the cocoa tree and is one of the best sources of antioxidants here on earth. Studies show that its health benefits are mainly in reducing the possible risk of heart disease. Read on to learn more!
Dark Chocolate: What Is It?
Dark chocolate is a type of chocolate made with no additional milk solids, giving it a more distinctly chocolate taste than milk chocolate. However, because it has no milk, dark chocolate can also have a dry, chalky texture and bitter taste.
Dark chocolate is distinguished by the percentage of cocoa solids it contains. Commercial dark chocolate is anywhere between 30-70%, while extremely dark chocolate tends to be 75-80% cocoa. Dark chocolate is sometimes distinguished as being sweet, semi-sweet or bittersweet.
Dark Chocolate: Nutritional Values
Here are some of the nutritional values of dark chocolates, all of which are beneficial for your overall health.
A 100-gram bar of a dark chocolate made of 70%-85% cacao has:
-31% of Phosphorous (RDA)
-98% of Manganese (RDA)
-58% of Magnesium (RDA)
-21% of Potassium (RDA)
-89% of Copper (RDA)
-22% of Zinc (RDA)
-67% of Iron (RDA)
-8 g of Protein (RDA)
-11 g of Fiber
Surprising Health Benefits of Dark Chocolates
Here are some of the most amazing health benefits of dark chocolate:
Helps improve heart health. The flavonoid content of dark chocolate helps improve cardiovascular health. Moreover, research shows that it can also reduce blood pressure and improve blood flow to the heart and brain.
Helps protect against free radicals. Free radicals, as we all know, can cause various conditions. Antioxidants help neutralize these free radicals, thus protecting the body from further damage. The antioxidants in dark chocolate include various vitamins, phytochemicals and minerals, so we can say that dark chocolate really helps combat free radicals!
Helps improve cholesterol. Because of the numerous nutrients and minerals in dark chocolate, like polyphenols, studies suggest that it can help control cholesterol levels in the body.
Antioxidant-rich. Believe it or not, the flavonoid content of dark chocolate has a greater health impact than some antioxidant-rich fruits like blueberries or cranberries
Helps prevent the risk of cancer. Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, which help reduce the risk of cancer. Furthermore, the antioxidant properties of dark chocolate also help fight cancer.
Helps treat blood sugar and blood pressure. Dark chocolate, as studies show, can reduce blood pressure. However, it can also reduce the abstaining of blood sugar.
Helps improve cognitive function. The flavonoid content of dark chocolate is essential in improving overall brain function.
Side Effects of Dark Chocolate
The health benefits of dark chocolates are undeniably good and amazing. However, overindulging dark chocolate might cause some side effects, especially if you are trying to reduce your caffeine intake. Excessive consumption of caffeine may cause sudden side effects like nausea, nervousness, sleeplessness, incessant urination and rapid beating of the heart.
Furthermore, excessive consumption of dark chocolate may also cause:
-Reverberating or upset stomach
-Kidney damage and disorders
-Petulant bowel syndrome
-High cholesterol
-Swelling under the skin
-Allergic skin reactions
-Vomiting and nausea
-Higher heart rhythms
-Bellyache (in infants)
-Reduced bone density
-Higher insulin levels
-Unpleasant taste
-Insomnia
-Dental caries
-Constipation
-Nervousness
-Migraines
-Neck pain
-Headaches
-Tetchiness
-Shakiness
-Weight gain
-Swelling
-Eczema
-Anxiety
-Acne
-Gas
These are just some of the many side effects of dark chocolate. While this may seem like a long list, these can be avoided by not overindulging. If you have a history of allergies to chocolate or cocoa, you should avoid eating it altogether.
Conclusion
Dark chocolate is not just for your sweet tooth; it is also a good addition to your diet. The health benefits of dark chocolates are astonishing, affecting your overall health. To get all of dark chocolate’s health benefits, you should choose the right product. Quality is important here, as low-quality dark chocolate may not give you the health benefits described in this article.
