8 Reasons Why Chocolate is Good for You

Pure chocolate has a long history. Between 1100 and 1400 BC it was used for the first time by different societies, such as the Maya and the Aztecs. They drunk chocolate as medicine, during ceremonies and as a treat for the elite. These days, chocolate still offers comfort when things go wrong. It gives peace in times of stress. Moreover, chocolate (with a cocoa percentage of 70 percent and more), which is consumed in moderation, also appears to be healthy for the heart, blood circulation and brain. In this article, you will learn about the most significant benefits of chocolate.

1. Chocolate Works as an Antioxidant

Regular tests are carried out which look at how the antioxidants from a specific food can influence free radicals. Chocolate presents outstanding results while these tests. Pure chocolate is rich in natural compounds that work as antioxidants, such as polyphenols and flavanols. One study even said that dark chocolate had higher antioxidant activity than the fruit that was tested. Chocolate contains many antioxidants that help reduce inflammation in the skin caused by exposure to UV radiation.

2. It Increases Libido

Dark chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a substance that is produced when you are in love. What is more, eating chocolate can make you feel more sensitive. Cocoa can stimulate your desire for love!

3. It Supports the Health of Your Brain

Adding chocolate to your diet can help improve brain functions. This is because the flavonoids in pure chocolate are passed on to the hippocampus, the area of ​​the brain that manages to learn and record. Because the blood supply to the brain improves, memory, learning ability and problem-solving capacity are enhanced.

4. It is Good for the Heart

Flavonoids are high-quality antioxidants that help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, and cause platelets to cling and clot less quickly. By enhancing blood circulation, dark chocolate supports the heart.

5. It Helps with Weight Loss

You may think that chocolate contributes to weight gain. However, it's true only when you eat it in large quantities. Controlled amounts of chocolate can help you feel satiated, so you eat less. Let a small block of dark chocolate, the size of your thumb tip, melt on your tongue 20 minutes before a meal and the brain will then release hormones that will give you a feeling of satisfaction. Doing the same thing after the meal also reduces the chance that you will grab snacks. Also, chocolate contains anti-inflammatory properties that reduce muscle fatigue during exercise.

6. Chocolate Defeats Stress and Makes You Feel Happier

Pure chocolate can give you a happy feeling thanks to the different substances that are present in it. One of these substances is phenylethylamine. This fabric gives you the same sense as when you are in love. The endorphins in dark chocolate provide a feeling of euphoria and also reduce the effects of pain and stress. Another substance found in dark chocolate, anandamide, is known for the happiness it gives.

Consuming high-quality chocolate with high cocoa content can help maintain a good mood. Chocolate can help release serotonin that improves mood and reduce stress.

To achieve these benefits, it is vital that you eat dark chocolate instead of an ordinary bar of milk chocolate that is full of sugar. Finally, moderation is of great importance, because although dark chocolate is healthy, you should not exaggerate it. So... eating dark chocolate makes you genuinely happier!

7. It is Rich in Minerals

Dark chocolate is bursting with healthy minerals such as magnesium, potassium, zinc and selenium. 100 grams of dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa content) contains 67% of the daily recommended amount of iron.

So, eating daily small amounts of chocolate can help you to have your mineral levels under control.

8. Chocolate Improves the Ability to Learn

By eating dark chocolate, the scores improve during a cognitive test. This is possible because there are many flavanols in cocoa.

Besides, dark chocolate also contains caffeine. The amount of this is not enough to keep you awake at night, but it is enough to have an effect on the brain. It improves your concentration and mood.

Conclusion

Pure chocolate is a healthy treat as long as you limit the portions.

However, it contains a lot of calories, and you can quickly overeat it. This can lead to overweight and other problems with your health.

If you want to lose weight, you can eat a piece of dark chocolate 2 or 3 times a week. The condition is that you eat dark chocolate in combination with healthy food.

There is significant proof that eating and Drinking Chocolate provides powerful health benefits. However, a lot of chocolate available on the market is very low-quality. High-quality chocolate contains 70% or higher cocoa content. There are, of course, more advantages of chocolate that this article hasn't mentioned...like the fabulous taste. Now, when you know almost everything about the benefits of chocolate, you can eat some with pleasure.

Enjoy chocolate but in moderation!