It is said that life’s three greatest pleasures are food, giving and gorging on chocolates. Well, we edited the third one but you have to agree on that, right? Chocolate is the world’s greatest comfort food that brings people together from different cultures, races and religions. Besides, no occasion, festival or event is ever complete without the sweet and celebratory chocolates. However, some people tend to share a love-hate relationship with chocolate. Such types of people crave chocolate but fight the urge to eat it because of the fear of weight gain and other concerns. But the good news is some of it can be good for you. There is dark chocolate that not only pleases your taste buds but also your health. Need some convincing? Here are the proven benefits of dark chocolate –
Nutritious and Delicious
The darker the chocolate, the better! It might look unbelievable at first but dark chocolate comes encapsulated with a ton of rich and good nutrients. Go for dark chocolate with 70% >= cocoa content as it contains a decent amount of soluble fibres and minerals. However, be mindful of your daily intake and check the list of ingredients before consuming.
Reduces Stress and Improves Brain Function
Other potential benefits of dark chocolate include preventing depression. The theobromine in dark chocolate lowers blood pressure, restlessness and gives energy. Then there is Anandamide which is a mood-boosting chemical and works as a mood & energy booster. More so, given the presence of flavanol content, chocolate improves the functioning of the brain and further enhances performance.
Helps Prevent Risk of Heart Diseases
Dark chocolates can also prevent the risk of heart diseases drastically. The high content of cocoa flavonoids present in this chocolate maintains the good health of the heart. It not only lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases but also removes bad cholesterol, thus protecting against heart-related issues.
Contributes to Weight Loss
Consuming dark chocolate may aid in weight loss since it can reduce cravings and encourage a feeling of fullness for a longer period. This way you feel less tempted towards snacks and other savouries. Also, dark chocolates are quite rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) which promote good metabolism.
Good for your Skin
There are n-number of beauty benefits of dark chocolate. It is packed with a decent number of vitamins and minerals – copper, magnesium, manganese, etc. – that are highly beneficial to your skin. Also, given the high levels of antioxidants present, chocolate is beneficial in protecting the skin against harmful UV rays, signs of ageing and collagen breakdown.
Relieves Cough
Among the many benefits of dark chocolate, the most useful one is, it is an efficient cough suppressant. The presence of antioxidants like flavonols, polyphenols, and theobromine antagonise the cough and cold-like effect.
Treats Diabetes
We understand that gorging on chocolate doesn’t feel like it will curb diabetes but dark chocolate can help do so. The flavonoids available improve glucose balance and support insulin sensitivity – prime factors that contribute to diabetes.
So, you see that dark chocolate has a lot of nutritional benefits. The key is to maintain a balanced intake. Furthermore, now that you are well-versed with the benefits of dark chocolate, go buy and enjoy it. There are so many online confectioners that provide doorstep delivery of dark chocolates in the UAE. You can order anytime, from anywhere.