Dark chocolate reduces heart problems, blood pressure and blood sugar
Dark chocolate is considered a healthy treat, with 70 percent or more cocoa, it is rich in plant compounds called flavonoids and flavanols that are associated with a lower risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular benefits.
Many studies have already shown that dark chocolate belongs to the group of healthy foods that also have some health benefits, and the latest study published last week found that it can also encourage weight loss.
The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology thus states that chocolate affects neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, and a study conducted on 14,000 adults says that consumption of dark chocolate reduces the likelihood of depressive episodes by 57 percent.
In addition, raw cocoa is full of flavanols, herbal compounds believed to improve circulation, lower blood pressure and inflammation, and lower cholesterol levels.
Nutritionist Cassandra Barns notes that cocoa is rich in potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure, and magnesium, which is key to the proper functioning of all muscles, including the heart.
A study found that moderate consumption of three rows of chocolate per month can reduce the risk of heart failure by 13 percent, and researchers say that flavonoids also strengthen vascular health and help reduce inflammation, but warn that excessive chocolate consumption is also not good and even increases the risk of heart failure.
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Chocolate contains both caffeine and theobromine, natural stimulants, but it also contains sugar, which gives the body energy, which is another reason why it is the healthiest dark chocolate that does not contain added sugars.
A study published last year in the journal Scientific Reports found that healthy adults who consumed cocoa-rich flavonols were also better at solving a variety of problem tasks, and Gabriele Gratton of the University of Illinois says the body responds to cocoa by increasing blood flow to the brain.
Flavanols can protect against oxidative stress and other cell damage, and people who consume chocolate rich in flavanols also have lower blood pressure.
By: Sarah R.
