As a child, you were probably told that chocolate wasn’t good for you. You were allowed to eat it on special occasions, but you didn’t get to really fulfill all of your chocolate desires. Now that you’re an adult, you may be surprised and excited to learn that dark chocolate has some health benefits.
Benefits of Dark Chocolate
With anything in life, moderation is key to getting the most benefits out of dark chocolate. However, if you’ve been denying yourself this semisweet treat because you still believe that it’s bad for you, get ready to change your outlook! Here are six benefits of dark chocolate.
1. Good for Your Skin
You may have heard the myth while growing up that eating chocolate will cause break outs. It’s has actually been found that dark chocolate has vitamins and minerals that are good for your skin, including magnesium, iron, copper and others. When it comes to dark chocolate benefits for skin, eating this snack could ensure that your body has the necessary elements to repair your skin and keep it looking youthful and radiant.
2. Could Help with Cancer Prevention
Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, which have been found to protect your cells from damage from cancer-causing elements called free radicals. Studies are still ongoing, but initial results have found that individuals who consume dark chocolate have a lower risk of developing certain cancers. It doesn’t hurt to do something proactive!
3. Could Help with Weight Loss
It may seem counterintuitive that eating chocolate is going to help you lose weight, but if done right, it might. It has been found that the benefits of dark chocolate for weight loss include eating small amounts throughout the day to help you control your appetite. If you consume dark chocolate before or after a meal, this releases hormones in your body that tell your brain you’re full.
Some studies have also found that dark chocolate functions much like a prebiotic, which are good bacteria found in your gut. The more you have of these in your body, the better your digestion. Adding dark chocolate to your diet could be just what you need to improve your gut health and lose weight.
4. Might Improve Brain Function
When it comes to the benefits of dark chocolate for the brain, it has been found that this treat releases the hormone dopamine, which makes you feel happy. Dark chocolate also contains flavonoids, which have been found to help with memory and learning.
5. Might Improve Heart Health
Eating dark chocolate could be a good way to improve your heart health by lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Again, this is due to the flavonoids that produce nitric oxide, which has been found to help your blood vessels relax and lower blood pressure.
6. Lowers Bad Cholesterol
Having high levels of bad cholesterol in your body can lead to a variety of health issues, but it has been found that eating dark chocolate can lower your bad cholesterol levels. Since dark chocolate also contains cocoa butter, this can help raise your good cholesterol levels too.
Be Kind to Your Body
So, is dark chocolate good for you? There are studies that show that it is. To help you get the amount of dark chocolate you need, check out what the Chocolate Pizza Company has to offer. We love bringing dark chocolate options to our customers. In moderation, dark chocolate is a delicious choice to brighten your day!
