Diet

Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health. from the seed of the cacao tree, it’s one of the best sources of antioxidants you can find that dark chocolate can improve your health and lower the risk of heart disease.

  •  Very nutritious

If you buy quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, then it’s quite nutritious. It contains a decent amount of soluble fiber and is loaded with minerals.

A 100-gram bar of dark chocolate with 70–85% cocoa.

11 grams of fiber
67% of the DV for iron
58% of the DV for magnesium
89% of the DV for copper
98% of the DV for manganese, has plenty of potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium.

For this reason, dark chocolate is best consumed in moderation.

  • A powerful source of antioxidants

ORAC stands for oxygen radical absorbance capacity. It’s a measure of the antioxidant activity of foods.

The biological relevance of ORAC values is questioned, as it’s measured in a test tube and may not have the same effect on the body.

Dark chocolate is loaded with organic compounds that are biologically active and function as antioxidants. These include polyphenols, flavonols, and catechins, among others.

  • May improve blood flow and lower blood pressure

The flavanols in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium, the lining of arteries, to produce nitric oxide.
One of the functions of NO is to send signals to the arteries to relax, which lowers the resistance to blood flow and therefore reduces blood pressure.

Many controlled studies show that cocoa and dark chocolate can improve blood flow and lower blood pressure, though the effects are usually mild.

  • Could improve brain function

The good news isn’t over yet. Dark chocolate may also improve the function of your brain.

One study of healthy volunteers showed that eating high flavanol cocoa for 5 days improved blood flow to the brain.

Cocoa may also significantly improve cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. It may improve verbal fluency and several risk factors for disease, as well.

Additionally, cocoa contains stimulant substances like caffeine and theobromine, which may be a key reason why it can improve brain function in the short term.

SUMMARY


Cocoa or dark chocolate may improve brain function by increasing blood flow. It also contains stimulants like caffeine and theobromine

 

 


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