Mmhhhh, the full flavor of cocoa, the delicate melting on your tongue - a piece of chocolate really acts as a balm for the soul.
That dark chocolate* is healthy, you've probably heard that before. But what's really behind it?
Can dark chocolate* healthy or is that just a myth? We took a closer look.
You'll learn in this post,
- what makes the dark chocolate healthy,
- why quantity matters, even with dark chocolate,
- 5 good reasons to eat dark chocolate regularly and
- what distinguishes dark chocolate from the milk variety.
It is amazing how many positive effects Dark chocolate actually on our Health has. Why it is definitely worthwhile to enjoy a piece of healthy dark chocolate more often you can read here!
Table of contents
Why dark chocolate is healthy - study
That dark chocolate* is healthy has been known for some time. In a recent study, researchers at California's Loma Linda University were able to prove how the valuable properties and ingredients of dark chocolate act in our body.
If the cocoa content is at least 70 %, then the consumption of dark chocolate can, among other things, reduce inflammation, lift the mood and promote concentration.
Within the study, the subjects received 48 g of dark chocolate, which is roughly equivalent to half a bar and 240 kcal.
Brain frequency changes were measured after 30 minutes and again after two hours. The results showed significantly increased brain power after eating the high cocoa content chocolate.
In addition, the so-called "T-cells" were activated, which are responsible for your immune defense.
For many years, researchers thought that the sugar content of dark chocolate was due to its positive effects on various nerve functions.
This led to the conclusion: the higher the sugar content, the happier dark chocolate makes you.
However, scientists now know that it is the cocoa content that is responsible for the positive effects. That is, the higher the percentage of cocoa, the better it is for mood, cognitive abilities and memory.
Flavonoids make dark chocolate healthy
What the dark chocolate* healthy makes, therefore, is the cocoa, which is a valuable source of Flavonoids is.
This is a secondary plant substance that has a slight blood pressure lowering effect and makes the blood vessels more elastic.
Moreover, these ingredients are antioxidants that protect you from free radicals. In addition, they support your brain health and cardiovascular system.
The most flavonoids are in a dark chocolate from at least 60 % cocoa mass.
In the milk variety, on the other hand, very few of them are found, since manufacturers may already speak of a milk chocolate from 25 % cocoa content. The white chocolate is completely free of cocoa, as it is made from the fat of the cocoa bean.
Dark chocolate - it's the quantity that counts
That the dark chocolate* healthy is therefore not a myth. Nevertheless, chocolate, in any form, is not a diet food.
Healthy dark chocolate may be slightly lower in calories than milk or white chocolate, but it too contains an average of 600 kilocalories per 100 grams.
Therefore, here too, do not enjoy in masses, but in moderation. You can treat yourself to a piece of dark chocolate of high quality from time to time.
It's best to let the chocolate melt very slowly on your tongue, then often just a piece is enough to satisfy your desire for sweet.
If you want to additionally benefit from the cacao ingredients, you can also use high quality raw Cocoa powder* spice up your muesli or smoothies. Or take a look at our No Bake Brownies with extra cocoa over!
Watch the sugar content of the dark chocolate!
5 good reasons to eat dark chocolate regularly
There are numerous reasons why dark chocolate is healthy for your body.
1. dark chocolate is healthy for the arteries and the heart
The secondary plant compounds (flavonoids) contained in cocoa beans ensure that your blood can flow freely in the arteries.
A good remedy for arteriosclerosis is regular consumption of chocolate with a high cocoa content (at least 70 %). However, in order not to reduce the effect, you should definitely limit the consumption of other sweets.
In addition, flavonoids may also help reduce the risk of heart attack.
In this context, the plant substances ensure that when the oxygen in the heart muscle decreases too much, the flavonoids provide better blood flow.
This in turn dilates your coronary arteries, even if they are already calcified. Therefore, a piece of dark chocolate is healthy for your heart.
2. dark chocolate helps with stress and puts you in a good mood
You know how it is, stress at work or in your private life.
If you are now wondering what to do in such unpleasant situations, the answer is obvious: just eat a piece of dark chocolate. :)
It not only calms your nerves, but also inhibits the release of the stress hormone. In addition, dark chocolate also contains tryptophan, which boosts serotonin production, the so-called happiness hormone.
Although the amount contained is not too high, but after eating chocolate you automatically feel happier.
3. a chocolate with high cocoa content lowers the risk of stroke
The fact that dark chocolate is healthy should be clear by now. It can also reduce the risk of stroke.
Eating chocolate improves the flexibility of your arteries, which counteracts blood flow problems.
Here, it's enough if you treat yourself to one or two pieces of chocolate every day.
4. dark chocolate improves concentration and memory.
One in the Journal "Nature Neuroscience published research proved that flavonoids ensure that memory improves.
In the study, 37 healthy people between 50 and 69 years of age consumed a daily drink containing cocoa.
This contained an increased dose of flavonoids. To prove the effect, the scientists performed brain scans of the test subjects, which showed a significantly improved blood circulation in part of the brain region "hippocampus".
The researchers concluded that memory performance improves. 60-year-olds can have the memory performance of a 30-40-year-old after 3 months of cocoa with a lot of flavonoids.
However, the number of participants was too small to confirm these results conclusively. Nevertheless, dark chocolate is healthy and, in combination with sufficient exercise, can delay mental decline.
5. dark chocolate healthy for iron deficiency
Would you have thought that dark chocolate is healthy and even contains more iron than spinach?
Yes, you read correctly, 100 grams of dark chocolate contain 7 milligrams of iron, whereas spinach contains only half that amount. Thus, the cocoa bean is one of the Foods with particularly high iron.
So if you want to improve your iron levels, you don't necessarily have to reach for green vegetables. Treat yourself to a piece or two of dark chocolate every day, and your health will thank you.
By the way, you can recognize iron deficiency by symptoms such as frequent fatigue and listlessness.
What exactly distinguishes dark chocolate from the milk variety?
Unlike dark chocolate, the milk variety has a bad reputation.
In fact, the dark temptation has less sugar than the creamy milk chocolate, but the energy value can be even higher of the fat cocoa mass (from about 70 %).
Nevertheless, the chocolate with high cocoa content is and remains healthier and also satisfies appetite faster or Cravings for fatty or sweet foods. Milk chocolate only provides short-term energy and does not really satiate for long, as the blood sugar level quickly drops again.
As a result, your brain is signaled again much faster that there is a feeling of hunger. The healthy dark chocolate lowers and raises your blood sugar level very slowly, which significantly reduces the risk of consuming unnecessary calories.
Our conclusion
From a cocoa content of about 70 %, a dark chocolate is healthy and has a positive effect on your health in many ways.
The higher the cocoa content of your chocolate, the healthier it is. However, it is important to keep the indulgence in check and eat only one or two pieces a day. Because dark chocolate also has many calories.
You may have to get used to the taste a little at first, but you'll see that after a short time you won't like milk chocolate anymore. With this in mind, we wish you an enjoyable chocolate time.
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