Is there anyone out there that doesn’t like chocolate?
I haven’t met anyone yet but I get asked a lot if chocolate is healthy. My answer is: it depends on what is the percentage of cocoa in there? The higher the amount the less sugar and fat has been added. As a child I used to hate dark chocolate but as I’m maturing I’m becoming a bit of chocolate connoisseur.
The general knowledge is that anything above 70% is good. I like 85% and 90% cacao content. I have also tried 100% but it really didn’t have any flavour and what surprised me most was that it wasn’t bitter but sour…
Article by OrganicFacts
22 Surprising Benefits Of Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate offers a number of amazing benefits like lowering blood pressure, fighting oxidative stress, improving heart health, preventing cancer, regulating cholesterol levels, improving cognition, and many more. Its antioxidant-rich nature also promotes hair and skin care.
What is Dark Chocolate?
Dark chocolate, also known as black chocolate, is made from cocoabutter instead of milk-based butter. It contains a higher level of cocoa or cacao, around 60% to 99%. Cocoa contains more phenolic antioxidants than most foods and it is the high cocoa content in this chocolate that makes it a superior antioxidant. The more the cocoa content in a chocolate, the richer and bittersweet it becomes in taste. The dry and semisweet taste of this chocolate is attributed to the lack of milk solids in it. Instead, it contains vanilla and some other emulsifiers like soy lecithin to preserve its uniqueness in flavor and texture.
Types of Dark Chocolate
The healthiest dark chocolate contains a cocoa percentage of 70% or higher. Let’s take a look at its various [1]types:
- Unsweetened chocolate: This is the purest form of dark chocolate, containing anywhere from 85-100% cocoa beans. It may be too bitter for most people to eat. It is also known as baker’s chocolate and it adds a rich chocolate flavor to cakes and cookies.
- Bittersweet chocolate: It has 65-80% cocoa beans and about 33% sugar. This may be the best dark chocolate to snack on, as it is not too bitter to taste and has a high cocoa percentage.
- Semisweet: This kind of dark chocolate is a sweeter version, with about 35-60% cocoa and 50% sugar. It is less healthy but has a sweet taste.
- Dutch processed dark chocolate: It is chocolate that has gone through a chemical process known as dutching which causes it to change color and reduce the bitter flavor. However, during dutching, chocolate loses most of its antioxidants, making it a poor health choice.
According to the latest medical research studies, the health benefits of dark chocolate may truly boost human health and provide a variety of valuable health benefits. [2]
Dark Chocolate Nutrition Facts
This chocolate is rich in antioxidants, such as polyphenols and flavonoids. The calories, sugar, and fat content depends on the kind of dark chocolate you choose. It is a rich source of minerals such as manganese, magnesium, iron, and copper. Other nutrient compounds found in this chocolate are phosphorus, potassium, vitamin K, B-12, and A, selenium, and calcium.
Let us discuss the many amazing benefits of dark chocolate in detail below.
Rich in Antioxidants
Dark chocolate is a potent antioxidant. Reports from the National Institute of Food & Nutrition Research in Italy suggests that these antioxidants actually neutralize free radicals and other dangerous molecules that may be potential health hazards, causing diseases like cancer, premature aging, and heart disease. [3]
Improves Heart Health
With 65% of polyphenol-rich cocoa in dark chocolate and other antioxidants like catechins and polyphenols, it can help reduce blood pressure and the risk of heart ailments. [4] The consumption of this chocolate keeps the arteries flexible, which prevents the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Even a small intake of this chocolate boosts cardiovascular health.
Reduces Blood Pressure
Dark chocolate is rich in minerals such as magnesium and copper. These minerals aid in regulating normal blood pressure and subsequently maintaining proper heartbeat levels.
This chocolate contains the highest amounts of flavonoids and polyphenols, even more than wine and tea. [5] This helps in free radical fighting and flushing out environmental toxins from the human body on a regular basis.
Prevents Cancer
The flavonoid and antioxidant-rich composition of dark chocolate also have cancer preventative abilities. Although further research is still ongoing in this regard.
Releases Endorphins & Improves Mood
Eating a delicious piece of chocolate can possibly reduce stress levels; it works by stimulating the production of endorphins that may give rise to a happy feeling. [6] In addition, the dark variety of chocolate contains stimulants such as theobromine and caffeine, which are major stimulants in reducing depression.
Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Dark chocolate has been medically proven to reduce the LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the human body significantly, up to 10-12%. [7] Research studies also showed that cocoa, a key ingredient of this chocolate, may contribute to HDL (good) cholesterol increase, and the suppression of oxidized LDL. Oxidized LDL can become reactive with surrounding tissues and increase the chance of heart attacks.
Dark chocolate is considered as one of the best foods for improving brain function, which is responsible for focus and memory. The flavonol and polyphenol-rich content of cocoa help in preventing the risk of stroke and dementia among both the elderly and the young. [8]Consuming 70% cacao is associated with better brain hyperplasticity, which is the ability to adapt to training and learn new skills. [9]
Boosts Immunity
The two kinds of flavonoids present in chocolates are mainly catechins and epicatechins. Dark chocolate has a high level of catechins, which boosts the human body’s immune system and possibly prevents major chronic ailments.
Treats Anemia
The flavonoid compounds are useful in treating anemic patients as well as those having poor dietary habits.
Reduces Blood sugar
Taken in moderate quantities, dark chocolate is shown to decrease the fasting blood sugar among diabeticpatients. Cocoa polyphenols also help in promoting insulin resistance and act as a vasodilator among diabetespatients. [10]
Cures Depression
The serotonin level in this chocolate may act as an effective anti-depressant. It contains serotonin, which has nearly identical qualities of anti-depressants.
Prevents Stroke
Eating dark chocolate not only relaxes the body but also makes the blood vessels more flexible. It also boosts the functioning of the endothelial cells that line the blood cells. It also decreases the risk of developing innumerable cardiovascular diseases and prevents strokes.
Skin Care
The bioactive compounds and flavonols in this chocolate also help in increasing skin hydration, preventing sun damage, and improving blood flow to the skin. [11]
Hair Care
Possessing its amazing anti-inflammatory properties and by increasing the blood flow to the hair, this chocolate can promote hair growth, prevent infections of the scalp, and prevent hair loss.
Increases Endurance
By increasing the metabolic rate of your body, dark chocolate helps in elevating your energy level and thereby boost endurance.
Improves Vision
On account of better blood flow to the brain, dark chocolate also helps in improving the vision.
Reduces Inflammation
Dark chocolate has amazing anti-inflammatory properties and therefore helps in reducing inflammation in the gut and heart tissue.
Beneficial during Pregnancy
Dark chocolate is beneficial for women who are pregnant, as it helps in preventing conditions like preeclampsia, reduces the strain on the muscles and helps you feel relaxed, and boosts overall immunity in the body. [12]
Treats Cough
The presence of theobromine in cocoa makes dark chocolate an efficient remedy to cure coughs and prevent symptoms of asthma. Unlike other cough medicines, theobromine doesn’t cause drowsiness. [13]
Controls Asthma
Dark chocolate is also beneficial in curing the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory issues, due to the presence of theobromine and methylxanthines in it.
Weight loss
By decreasing fat absorption in the body, dark chocolate can help in treating the symptoms of obesity and thereby result in weight loss. Also, eating a small piece of this chocolate may help you keep your sweet cravings in check and allow you to maintain your weight loss regimen. [14]
Side effects of Dark Chocolate
Although dark chocolate has some amazing health benefits, overconsumption of anything can result in side effects, even if it’s a miracle food. Some of the major side effects of this variety of chocolate include the following:
- High caffeine: Dark chocolate has more caffeine than any other type of chocolate. Consuming it in high quantities may cause anxiety, diarrhea, nervousness, and dehydration.
- High cocoa: The high cocoa content in this variety of chocolate can cause various health ailments like skin conditions, constipation, and migraine headaches. It can also cause nausea and gas.
- Pregnancy: Overconsumption of this chocolate in pregnant women is strictly prohibited, as it may cause premature delivery, miscarriage, and low birth weight.
Other side effects of dark chocolate include the following:
- Heart palpitations
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Osteoporosis
- High blood pressure
- Glaucoma
- Bleeding disorders