Dark chocolate is heart-healthy when consumed in moderation. When you think of heart-healthy foods, chocolate might not immediately come to mind. However, the health benefits of this delectable treat, particularly dark chocolate, have been touted for a long time. So, is dark chocolate really good for you?
According to research, dark chocolate is indeed a heart-healthy chocolate treat when it is free of sugar and saturated fat.
Antioxidants that fight disease are abundant in dark chocolate. Concentrates on show it can assist with lessening pulse and lower your gamble of coronary illness.
Consuming dark chocolate is beneficial to one’s health. Consuming small amounts of dark chocolate on a regular basis can benefit your health, according to studies. Modesty is essential. Like other types of chocolate, dark chocolate has a lot of calories and can make you gain weight. However, it can fit into a diet that is well-balanced in small amounts. Scripps Clinic cardiologist Dr. Uddin asserts.
How do antioxidants work?
Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds all contain antioxidants, as do the cocoa beans from which chocolate is made. They aid in the fight against inflammation and shield our cells from free radical damage.
Free radicals can originate from an external source like tobacco smoke, toxins, or pollutants, or they can be byproducts of natural biological processes in our bodies like breathing and food breakdown. They have the potential to cause harm to proteins, DNA, cells, and diseases.
Antioxidants reduce or prevent the effects of free radicals in the body. Flavanols can be found in abundance in cocoa solids found in dark chocolate. A type of flavonoid known for its potent antioxidant properties, flavanols are found in plants.
What do studies demonstrate?
Researchers have found evidence that dark chocolate can help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Consuming raw almonds, dark chocolate, and cocoa may help lower the risk of coronary disease, according to a 2017 study. This combination significantly reduced the number of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), also known as “bad cholesterol” for their role in clogging arteries, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
According to additional studies, dark chocolate can assist in:
- Processing nitric oxide, which helps improve blood flow throughout the body, including the brain,
- making platelets in the blood less sticky and able to create clots, which can cause heart attacks or strokes.
- lowering the risk of insulin resistance, which reduces the risk of diabetes, and
- controlling chronic inflammation, which can lead to heart disease,
Darker chocolate is better
Before you buy a lot of chocolate bars, keep in mind that only dark chocolate has been found to be beneficial. Cocoa flavanols are most abundant in dark chocolate.
Milk chocolate has not demonstrated comparable advantages. Flavanols are one of the beneficial compounds that are eliminated during processing. White chocolate is made solely from milk, sugar, cocoa butter, and contains no flavonols. It matters how much cocoa is in it. To get the most flavonols, choose dark chocolate bars with minimal processing and at least 70% cocoa. However, limit your portions, advises Dr. Uddin.
There are approximately 600 calories and 24 grams of sugar in a typical dark chocolate bar. Milk chocolate has twice as much sugar as regular chocolate but about the same number of calories.
Combine your love of dark chocolate with a healthy lifestyle to get the most out of it.