“But don’t get me wrong here… although there are plenty of health benefits, chocolate is unfortunately also high in calories coming from fat and sugar. So don’t swap all your veggie and fruit snacks with chocolate. Like with many things in life, moderation is the key here.
Always opt for dark chocolate with the highest cocoa content (at least 70%). Dark chocolate contains polyphenols and flavanols, which work as an antioxidant to protect your body from damage done by free radicals. Unrefined raw cocoa also contains epicatechins, another powerful antioxidants, but it has a bitter taste and is therefore often removed from commercially available chocolate.”
Dark Chocolate as A Natural Medicine
1. Dark Chocolate Makes You Smarter:
It’s true. Studies have shown that those who consume a nice hot cup of hot chocolate in the evenings before bed have over time improved brain function. It does this by increasing the blood flow in your brain and your heart, which instantly improves your cognitive function.
2. Dark Chocolate Gives You Youth:
High in anti-oxidants, dark chocolate helps combat the radical cell damage caused by toxins and free radical activity through aging. Stay young and healthy by eating chocolate.
3. Dark Chocolate is Excellent for The Heart:
Studies have shown that those who do indulge in eating dark chocolate have lower blood pressure, improved blood flow and have a smaller risk of blood clots. Strengthen your heart by eating dark chocolate 3 times a week.
4. Dark Chocolate Improves Your Mood:
Chocolate has been proven to put you in a better mood, make you calmer and feel more relaxed. Which is just as important as any other health benefit. Now you know why you want chocolate when you’re stressed or in despair.
5. Dark Chocolate is a Vitamin Source:
Chocolate contains some great vitamins and minerals that support good health. This list includes: potassium, copper, magnesium, iron. All of which are in high concentrations to provide you with the protection against such things as: stroke, anemia, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
6. Reduce Your Cholesterol
Regular consumption of dark chocolate may reduce your cholesterol. Its antioxidants protect oxidation of LDL cholesterol and prevents artery damage.
7. Hot Raw Chocolate For A Cough
Chocolate contains theobromine which soothes a cough and has a similar effect to codeine. So try a hot cup of almond milk and raw cocoa when you have a cough.
8. Lower Your Blood Pressure
Flavanols help your arteries to relax, which lowers blood flow and blood pressure.
9. Reduce Stress Levels
Dark chocolate contains magnesium, which gives us a happy, feel good vibe and lifts our spirit. And there is more – compounds found in dark chocolate lower cortisol levels to relax body and mind.
10. Dark Chocolate Protects Your Skin
Flavonoids in dark chocolate protect your skin from UV damage. But don´t see it as your new sunscreen, you still need that when going out in the sun.
11. Natural Painkiller
Chocolate stimulates our body to produce calming and pain relieving endorphins.
So as stated earlier, if you needed a reason you can’t go wrong with these. You can eat chocolate in moderation and freely, knowing now that it can do great things for your body.
Source: www.healthyandnaturalworld.com Via: healthy-holistic-living.com