You might think chocolate is sinful, but it’s a lot better for you than you think. In fact, it has been used for hundreds of years by medical professionals to cure ailments such as tuberculosis, gout, fatigue, diarrhea, weak digestion, hemorrhoids, low virility, and shortness of breath.
Recent nutritional research has identified many health benefits of chocolate. After reviewing these studies, I came up with the following ten reasons why you need to consume more chocolate.
1. Reduces high blood pressure – flavonoids in cocoa (procyanids) help balance blood pressure and reduce blood clotting. Researchers from
2. Improves blood flow to brain – a University of Nottingham professor found that drinking cocoa drinks rich in flavanols improves blood flow to key areas of the brain for two to three hours. Flavanols in the cocoa drink are a key ingredient of dark chocolate. Professor Macdonald’s study also suggested that cocoa flavanols in chocolate may enhance brain function to help fight sleep deprivation, fatigue, and the effects of ageing.
3. Boosts mood – MSNBC reported that caffeine and other chemicals in dark chocolate can improve your mood and ease premenstrual symptoms. Mark’s Daily Apple wrote that the chemical phenylethylamine in chocolate has been found to trigger feelings similar to “falling in love.”
4. Prevents cell damage and 5. Improves blood sugar levels – Lisa C. Cohn, R.D., President of the Park Avenue Nutrition Spa in NYC, wrote that flavonoids in pure dark chocolate are responsible for these added benefits. Cohn said, “if you’re going to indulge on Feb. 14 or any other day, go for the purest dark chocolate you can find. That’s the kind loaded with flavonoids…”
6. Reduces risk of heart attack – a researcher from the John Hopkins University School of Medicine said that eating a few squares of dark chocolate every day may reduce your risk of dying from a heart attack by almost 50%. The study found that blood platelets clotted slower in people who eat chocolate.
7. Helps ease chronic fatigue syndrome – a study found that adults with chronic fatigue syndrome who eat 1.5 ounces of 85% cocoa dark chocolate were less fatigued after they eat chocolate.
8. Raises HDL cholesterol and lowers LDL cholesterol – a Penn State study found that diets high in cocoa powder and dark chocolate (with high flavonoid content) are related to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels when compared with diets low in flavonoids such as tea, wine, coffee, and onions.
9. Improves processing of blood sugar – an Italian study found that dark chocolate consumption increased the body’s metabolism of blood sugar and may reduce the risk of diabetes.
10. Eases a persistent cough – a UK study found that theobromine, a component in cocoa, may be more effective as a cough medicine than standard drug treatments. The research showed that “theobromine acts on the sensory nerve endings of the vagus nerve, which runs through the airways in the lungs to the brain.”
Many chocolates can be high in calories, sugar, and saturated fat. To maximize the health benefits of chocolate, avoid eating processed chocolate products that have refined sugar and milk fat.
Instead, choose the purest dark chocolate you can find – the more raw and unprocessed, the higher the flavonoid content. The best dark chocolate to eat has at least 60% cocoa solids.
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{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
Have you heard about Lindt 99% cocoa chocolate? I must have it!
A Chocolate lover’s dream come true. My wife and I have been consuming healthy doses of chocolate now for a couple of years. I find that a small piece of 70% cocoa in the morning after breakfast gives me a lift and is healthy too. If you’re interested in another healthy product try Monavie. It also has many, many health enhancing benefits and an exciting business opportunity as well. Yours for optimal health, RC
Chocolate doesn’t contain caffeine. It does have theobromine, which is somewhat similar but not as harsh as caffeine is. They are in the same family of chemicals but they are not the same thing. So if you are a caffeine free person you can still eat chocolate.
Theobromine: This is the primary alkaloid found in cocoa and chocolate, and is one of the causes for chocolate’s mood-elevating effects. This mild stimulant belongs to the methylxanthine family, which also includes the similar compound caffeine, with which theobromine is frequently confused.
I’ve heard of Lindt 99% cocoa chocolate. What I don’t understand is why people talk about it. Isn’t it the same thing as getting that 100% cocoa powder you use for baking? It’s pure 100% cocoa and cheaper. I usually sprinkle it onto my chocolate ice cream. All of sudden, you’re in chocolatey heaven.
Yeah… how about this 100% cocoa powder for baking? Does it contain all the benefit of chocolate but without the fat, sugar and other bad stuff? Anybody know?
Healthy Chocolate has way more benefits then Lint chocolate.
I am a chocolate maker — that is I make chocolate each and every day (well almost) for Amano Artisan Chocolate (http://www.amanochocolate.com). One of the best things about my job is that I HAVE to eat chocolate — it is part of my job requirement!
To answer the question about cocoa powder. Yes, cocoa powder contains all the goodies minus the fat. All that cocoa powder is is chocolate minus the sugar and fat.)
Also despite the post above and a recent Digg article, chocolate does contain caffeine as well as theobromine. (There is about three times theombromine as there is caffeine.) As an FYI we have an article about it here: http://www.amanochocolate.com/articles/caffeineinchocolate.html
For some reason, there is a persistent myth that chocolate only contains theobromine and not caffeine that is not true. That chocolate contains caffeine AND theobromine has been known since the early 1900’s at least.
Hope this helps answer people’s questions.
Art
Interesting information. I try to eat only dark chocolate. As with everything, moderation is key. Thanks for the list of benefits.
Ollies is great!!! With the info that I have read and can use as far as cooking meals of my own I shall become as good as him…tee hee..Now seriously I am in the medical filed and learning things that will be helpful to my health as well as tasting great…It great to have such a site that can benefit ones health and although I haven’t asked questions yet, I feel that I would get an honest answer…Thank you for the info on chocolate and glad to know that it could reduce heart atttack..for he is right.Blood presure was also interesting, how strange it is how a small amoung of chocolate can help with ones health…Thanks again…
Interesting information. Thank you for the info about chocolate!
Also, a recent study found that cocoa does a better job at preventing cavities than flouride. Which is not to say that eating chocolate reduces cavities, but toothpaste might be tasting better in the future.
A piece of 70-80% dark chiocolate is revitilizing me… some drink coffe some chiocolate, people say you get fat from sweets, you do… if you don’t think what you are buying, dont’ buy white chocolate, it is made of milk powder, sometimes very fatty, although it seems lighter. This information i svery helpful, thank you.
i love it!
amathieson@amerexenergy.co.uk
I make organic and fair trade certified chocolate (www.travelchocolate.com includes gift items). Most experts recommend that you need to eat dark chocolate with at least 60% cocoa content to get enough of the health benefits of cocoa to offset the not so healthy benefits of the added sugar. For taste, I’ve found you can go as high as 70% cocoa and have the chocolate sweet enough. Any higher is just too bitter. John R.
a chocolate lovers wish just came true now i finally now that all the chocolate im eating is helping me with all the 10 reasons
Me thinks me a chocolate lover at 483 lbs.
I eat chocolate ice creams bar daily and feel happy all day. Really chocolate act on body. I love chocolate.
I just looked at my box of cocoa powder and 1 T is 15 calories, 5 of which are fat.
The best and healthiest chocolate is Xocai chocolate made from Acai berries and pure cocoa powder. this chocolate can be consumed by diabetics and is full of antioxidants. This is a super food that everybody should eat every day.
Chocolate will make you fat.
Apparently some chocolate out there has the flavanoids removed. Does anyone know how to know which products those are, or does anyone have knowledge of some kind of list of such?
Have you ever tried xocai healthy chocolate?
It is delicous and nutritious dark chocolate and acai berries. xocai has the patented cold press process so that all the flavinoids are not heated up and destroyed.
wwww.wholesomechocolate.biz
I stumbled upon this article and I gotta say that it’s great! Chocolate rocks!
David
omg, thats it
im going start eating chocolate like crazy, he best stuff just got better
KOOL!!!!!!!!!!!:)
kids calm dwn itz chocolat itz good 4 u:)
=P
I will be using this website in my research for work, thanks for the info!
Great article. This is the reason I’ve strated promoting the Xocai product line. Visit my website for more information http://www.scottshealthychocolate.com
My favorite desserts are definitely chocolate. Chocolate makes people feel good and can actually be good for their health. HOORAY!
Great chocolate recipes: http://www.chocolate-addiction.com.
Finally, someone found (and patented) a way to process the cacoa bean without destroying so much of its wonderful properties. All the good, none of the bad. SWEET !!!
AWESOME news !!! Can you tell me more about that ???
Thanks !
Great news for me, i love chocolate, so love this post thanks for sharing this information with us
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