The Surprisingly Healthy Side of Chocolate
The chocolate you love is healthier than you might think.
Despite what you may have heard, eating chocolate has health benefits. Among other things, chocolate can be good for your heart and your mood.
Whether you curl up with a hot cup of cocoa after hitting the slopes or make a decadent dessert to share with someone you love, chocolate can be a powerfully healthy part of eating well.
How to Choose Healthy Chocolate
When choosing your chocolate, go with dark chocolate over milk or white chocolate. Dark chocolate typically has less sugar and a greater ratio of cacao which is the main ingredient used to make chocolate. Although it is processed to make chocolate, cacao has a naturally bitter flavor, which is why sugar is added to sweeten the taste. Try to get chocolate that is mostly cacao to maximize the health benefits.
Cocoa contains many compounds that help protect your health.
Flavonoids are antioxidants that lead to many of chocolate's health benefits. They decrease inflammation, increase blood flow, and improve the flexibility of your veins and arteries. Dark chocolate has twice the amount of flavonoids of milk chocolate.
Chocolate also contains the antioxidant epicatechin, which protects nerve cells from damage, and resveratrol (also found in red wine), which protects the nervous system.
Moderation is key to getting the health benefits from chocolate. Stick to eating about one ounce or a two-inch square of dark chocolate three times a week.
The Health Effect of Chocolate
Chocolate's positive effects on health include:
Heart health – Flavonoids positively affect your heart health by lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow to the heart and brain, and improving blood clotting. Multiple studies have shown that eating chocolate regularly could cut your risk of heart disease or heart failure by one-third.
Stroke – The antioxidant flavonoids in chocolate improve blood flow, similar to aspirin, thereby decreasing the risk of stroke.
Brain health – Flavonoids in chocolate are thought to improve circulation, including blood flow to the brain, which could help maintain cognitive health as you age.
Skin – Flavonoids help protect the skin against UV rays. Additionally, cacao butter is a powerful moisturizer.
Coughs – Theobromine in chocolate has been found to be more effective at relieving a persistent cough than codeine. Theobromine seems to suppress nerve activity, halting the cough reflex.
Mood – Chocolate contains phenethylamine, which triggers the release of endorphins, giving your mood a positive boost.
Weight management – While chocolate is by no means a "diet food," the fiber in dark chocolate is satisfying and can actually keep you full, so you'll eat less.
Workout recovery – Chocolate milk is an excellent post-workout recovery drink for high-endurance athletes because it contains an ideal mix of protein and carbohydrates to help muscles refuel while it rehydrates the body.
Does all this talk of chocolate have your mouth watering? Try one of these sweet or savory recipes:
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