For years I hated chocolate and believed that anything sweet was inherently unhealthy. What I didn’t know at the time was that if I ate chocolate in the right way, it wasn’t as harmful as I thought — in fact, it could even be beneficial.
“Cocoa contains about 380 known chemicals, including phenolic phytochemicals, which have been intensively studied for their antioxidant capabilities,” nutritionist Laura Parada tells AskUme. “Additionally, some studies show that pure cocoa has a very high total phenolic content and has strong antioxidant activity, superior to black tea and green tea.”
5 Benefits of Dark Chocolate
It stabilizes blood sugar levels: “Dark chocolate improves cognitive performance through better oxygen supply to the brain,” says Parada.
It is a powerful antioxidant.
It has anti-inflammatory properties.
It helps lower cholesterol: “Several studies have confirmed that cocoa consumption can benefit heart health by lowering blood pressure, increasing blood vessel elasticity, slightly reducing LDL cholesterol and insulin. Helps fight diabetes by reducing resistance and other inflammatory processes,” Parada said.
It acts as a stimulant: “In addition, cocoa provides minerals such as magnesium, copper and iron, and it also has a lower caffeine content than coffee, which also gives it stimulant properties.”
Which dark chocolate is best to choose?
Parada recommends buying chocolate with a cocoa content of 75% or more. Keep in mind that most standard chocolate bars contain less than 40% cocoa, so it’s important to check the label. “Even though some chocolates have a high cocoa content, they also contain other types of ingredients that we don’t need, such as sweeteners, flavorings or high levels of sugar.”
How to Incorporate It Into Your Diet (The Healthy Way)
Add chunks of dark chocolate to homemade pancakes or eat it with nuts for a healthy breakfast. Of course, moderation is key — no more than one ounce of dark chocolate (more than 75 percent cacao) a day.
