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Chocolate and Your Health

It’s fair to say consuming chocolate is a controversial and debatable food choice in the health and wellness department. While it’s a source of great pleasure and enjoyment for millions of people, it’s also a temptation that can break even the most carefully followed weight loss plan.

However, there’s a little more to the story.

In addition to being a delicious indulgence, chocolate with a cocoa percentage of 35% or greater without high sugar or sugar by products and fillers is, in fact, a healthy food choice with regular consumption in small amounts.

 Better Heart Health 

Many studies show chocolate has excellent benefits for your heart and circulation. It helps to keep arteries flexible, and slows down the fatty deposits which raise blood pressure.

Cocoa has also been linked to lower levels of “bad” cholesterol while boosting the production of the beneficial “good” cholesterol.

Lastly, atrial fibrillation, or irregular heart beat,  is one of the most common forms of heart disease among older adults, and affecting approximately nine percent of seniors. A recent long-term study by Harvard  showed that frequent chocolate consumption reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation by 20%.

Lower Stroke Risk 

Healthcare providers already know a healthy cardiovascular system and normal blood pressure reduces the risk of stroke. In recent years a study over a ten-year analysis of over 37,000 Swedish men found those who ate a small portions of chocolate each week had a significantly lower stroke risk than those who ate none. Pretty incredible

Rich in Iron 

Dark chocolate is an excellent dietary source of iron, and can help combat the deficiency that affects around eight percent of the population. People with an iron deficiency have symptoms that include feeling tired, are more prone to illnesses, and experience unexplained aches and pains. Just 3 oz of dark chocolate can supply half of the recommended daily iron intake for adults.

 Antioxidants Do A Body Good

Chocolate contains two types of flavonoids,  flavanol and flavonol. One of the flavonols in chocolate is quercetin. Quercetin is a potent antioxidant that help protect the body’s cells from free-radical damage. Flavonoids may help protect against diseases associated with oxidative stress such as heart disease and cancer.

Flavanols protect your body’s cells from the damage caused by aging and environmental pollution. In turn, this leads to smoother, suppler, younger-looking skin. In addition,  Flavanols also help decrease inflammation and contribute to faster minor skin/wound healing.

Additionally, flavanols are also thought to play an important role in mental performance, and some researchers link a diet rich in flavanols reduce risk of dementia.

Diabetes

Dark chocolate also contains polyphenols, another type of antioxidant. Research shows a diet rich in polyphenols can reduce the risk of developing diabetes. In addition, there is evidence of improvement is insulin sensitivity, and helping even out blood sugar levels.

Appetite Suppressant 

It may sound crazy, but chocolate can actually help you lose weight. The bitterness of dark chocolate is thought to dampen levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin. This suppresses your appetite and therefore cuts the amount of food you consume in a sitting. Try dissolving a small block of bitter chocolate on your tongue half an hour before a meal to see this effect in action. This actually works. Personally speaking, I did this and discovered the amount of calories and sweet craving was less.

Better Mood ~ Less Stress 

Lastly, high-quality chocolate contains a chemical called phenyethylamine. This organic compound stimulates your body’s production of endorphins, a natural hormone, which generates a pleasant glow and overall feeling of goodness inside which all chocolate lovers will recognize. Simply, eating this delightful food source will make you feel happier, and in turn less stressed. 

This is a good thing.

Of course, the health benefits of consuming chocolate are mute if you eat lots of cheap, fatty, chocolate that’s low in cocoa but high in sugar and other fillers. Be sure to look for organic bitter sweet dark chocolate and check to see if the cocoa content is at least 35% to maximize the benefits of this wonderful food.

Final Words

There remains much to learn about the health and wellness benefits of cocoa consumption. Therefore, before incorporating cocoa in any form into your diet, check with your healthcare provider. Be certain before indulging. Doing so is to your overall betterment not detriment.

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