what are the health benefits of dark chocolate?
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['Very Nutritious. Share on Pinterest. ... ', 'Powerful Source of Antioxidants. ... ', 'May Improve Blood Flow and Lower Blood Pressure. ... ', 'Raises HDL and Protects LDL From Oxidation. ... ', 'May Reduce Heart Disease Risk. ... ', 'May Protect Your Skin From the Sun. ... ', 'Could Improve Brain Function.']
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On the other hand, chocolate is on the list of tryptophan foods, which includes famous natural sleep aids like turkey and warm milk. ... Dark chocolate contains serotonin, too, so both of these chemicals help flood your brain with neurotransmitters that make your feel relaxed — and maybe even a bit sleepy.
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Since dark varieties contain super-high cocoa contents (usually 70 to 80 percent, but many up to 100!), they contain more flavanols than milk chocolate. ... Plus, dark chocolate is packed with important minerals—like magnesium, zinc, and iron—which can also help keep your brain healthy as you age.
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The healthiest type of chocolate When it comes to which type of chocolate is the healthiest, the answer is simple: it's dark chocolate by a landslide. Since dark varieties contain super-high cocoa contents (usually 70 to 80 percent, but many up to 100!), they contain more flavanols than milk chocolate.
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Dark chocolate is chocolate without no added milk solids. The basic ingredients are cacao beans, sugar, an emulsifier like soy lecithin to preserve texture, and flavorings such as vanilla. The more cocoa and less sugar dark chocolate has, the more bitter it will taste and a small amount is considered a healthful snack.
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Epidemiological studies suggest that cocoa-rich products reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Flavanols found in cocoa have been shown to increase the formation of endothelial nitric oxide which promotes vasodilation and therefore blood pressure reduction.
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It also contains a moderate amount of saturated fat, which can negatively affect blood lipid levels, though its heart-protective effects from flavanols appear to outweigh the risk. Choosing dark chocolate and eating modest quantities may offer the greatest health benefits.
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But it matters what type of dark chocolate you nibble on. For the heart health benefits, reach for at least 70 percent cacao, which is fairly bitter without the added fat and sugar. And don't forget that even though dark chocolate is considered a (somewhat) healthy treat, it still packs plenty of calories.
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Although dark chocolate contains beneficial antioxidants and minerals, it is usually also high in sugar and fat, which makes it a very calorie-dense food. Dark chocolate contains fat in the form of cocoa butter, which mainly consists of unhealthful saturated fats.
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Milk chocolate has only a fifth as much cocoa as dark, vastly reducing its health effects, and it has higher levels of added sugar and fat. However, some studies, like those focusing on heart health and brain function, show improvements for people who eat milk chocolate, too.
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['High in Nutrients and Antioxidants. ... ', 'May Reduce Cholesterol. ... ', 'Could Help Kill Cancer Cells. ... ', 'May Aid in Blood Sugar Regulation. ... ', 'May Alleviate Inflammation. ... ', 'Could Help Promote Weight Loss. ... ', 'Easy to Add to Your Diet.']
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Share on Pinterest Recent research suggests that chocolate may have some health benefits. Chocolate receives a lot of bad press because of its high fat and sugar content. Its consumption has been associated with acne, obesity, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and diabetes.
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Although chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is currently being touted as good for the general public, starch is a SCD illegal and "Theobromine (among other effects) can cause sleeplessness, tremors, restlessness, anxiety, as well as contribute to increased production of urine.
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Also, chocolate is high in sugar and saturated fat. It is a high-energy (high calorie) food, and too much can result in excess weight, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Healthier sources of polyphenols include beans, pulses, fruit and vegetables.
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"Chocolate is a particularly good food to enrich with omega-3 because it contains compounds that aid in its absorption. And dark chocolate is a natural source of antioxidants which help reduce cell damage."
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“Dark chocolate is a concentrated source of calories and eating too much of it can lead to eating too many calories in general, which may result in weight gain. ... Webster added that the amount of chocolate you would have to eat to get the appropriate amount of flavanols would “be quite large.”
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May Boost Heart Health Along with tea, flavonoids can be found in vegetables, fruits, red wine and dark chocolate. Consuming them on a regular basis may help reduce many risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, elevated triglyceride levels and obesity ( 7 ).