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a gas. One of the functions of NO is to send signals to the arteries<br />
to relax, which lowers resistance to blood flow <strong>and</strong> therefore<br />
reduces blood pressure.<br />
A study published in 2015 compared type 2 diabetics’ consumption<br />
of white chocolate versus high-cocoa, polyphenolrich<br />
dark chocolate. The subjects consumed 25 grams (a little<br />
under one ounce) of dark or white chocolate for eight weeks.<br />
The researchers found that not only did dark chocolate lower<br />
the blood pressure of the hypertensive diabetics, but it also<br />
decreased fasting blood sugar. Of course, if you’re a diabetic,<br />
the higher the cocoa content, which also means the lower the<br />
sugar content, the better.<br />
Dark Chocolate Improves Heart & Skin Health<br />
A study published in International Journal of Cardiology had<br />
subjects either consume a daily dose of flavonoid-rich dark<br />
chocolate or non-flavonoid white chocolate for two weeks. The<br />
results showed that flavonoid-rich dark chocolate intake<br />
significantly improved heart circulation in healthy adults. On<br />
the other h<strong>and</strong>, white chocolate with zero flavonoids had no<br />
positive health effects on the subjects.<br />
The bioactive compounds in dark chocolate may also be great<br />
for your skin. The flavonols can protect against sun-induced<br />
damage, improve blood flow to the skin <strong>and</strong> increase skin<br />
density <strong>and</strong> hydration. If you’re planning on a beach vacation,<br />
consider loading up on dark chocolate in the prior weeks <strong>and</strong><br />
months.<br />
Dark Chocolate Is Good For Overall Cholesterol Profile<br />
The compounds in dark chocolate appear to be highly protective<br />
against the oxidation of LDL (“Bad” Cholesterol). In the<br />
long term, this should cause much less cholesterol to lodge<br />
in the arteries <strong>and</strong> we should see a lower risk of heart disease<br />
over the long term.<br />
Studies have also shown that:<br />
• Dark chocolate’s cocoa polyphenols may be involved in<br />
cholesterol control.<br />
• Three-week consumption of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate<br />
increased HDL (good) cholesterol.<br />
• 15-day consumption of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate<br />
resulted in total <strong>and</strong> LDL (“bad”) cholesterol decreases of<br />
6.5 percent <strong>and</strong> 7.5 percent, respectively.<br />
• Seven-day consumption of regular dark chocolate resulted<br />
in a 6 percent decrease of LDL cholesterol <strong>and</strong> a 9<br />
percent increase of HDL cholesterol.<br />
Dark Chocolate Protects From Disease Causing Free Radicals<br />
Free radicals are unbalanced compounds created by cellular<br />
processes in the body, especially those that fight against environmental<br />
toxins we’re exposed to on a daily basis. Antioxidants<br />
are the compounds that are believed to neutralize free<br />
radicals <strong>and</strong> protect the body from their damage.<br />
One of dark chocolate’s most impressive attributes is its high<br />
antioxidant content, which is why it is in the list of top highantioxidant<br />
foods. Two groups of antioxidants prevalent in.<br />
So the higher the cacao/cocoa percentage of your next dark<br />
chocolate bar, the more awesome antioxidants you’ll consume.<br />
Dark Chocolate Improves Brain Function<br />
The good news isn’t over yet. Dark chocolate may also improve<br />
the function of the brain. Dark chocolate is in the list of brain<br />
foods to boost focus <strong>and</strong> memory. Previous research showed<br />
that acute as well as chronic ingestion of flavanol-rich cocoa is<br />
associated with increased blood flow to cerebral gray matter<br />
<strong>and</strong> it has been suggested that cocoa flavanols might be beneficial<br />
in conditions with reduced cerebral blood flow, including<br />
dementia <strong>and</strong> stroke. It also improves verbal fluency <strong>and</strong><br />
several risk factors for disease<br />
Take Home Message<br />
There is considerable evidence that cocoa can provide powerful<br />
health benefits, being especially protective against cardiovascular<br />
disease. Dark chocolates often contain some sugar,<br />
but the amounts are usually small <strong>and</strong> the darker the chocolate,<br />
the less sugar it will contain.<br />
So is dark chocolate good for you? Most certainly yes, as long as<br />
you choose the right product. When you choose the best <strong>and</strong><br />
healthiest option, there are so many awesome benefits of dark<br />
chocolate.<br />
But of course, this doesn’t mean people should go all out <strong>and</strong><br />
consume lots of chocolate every day. It is still loaded with calories<br />
<strong>and</strong> easy to overeat on. Be aware that a lot of the chocolate<br />
on the market is of poor quality. You need to choose quality<br />
stuff… organic, dark chocolate with 70% or higher cocoa content.<br />
So go ahead — reward yourself guilt-free <strong>and</strong> promote your<br />
health at the same time with a delicious piece of dark chocolate.
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