Dark chocolate lovers, your sweet tooth may actually be making you healthier! According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, dark chocolate contains a nutrient called flavonoids, which can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of blood clots and increase blood flow. In the last four years, there have been a multitude of studies related to the health benefits of eating dark chocolate, and these studies have yielded fantastic results.
Two such examples are: a research team in Germany with the European Society of Cardiology studied 20,000 people over an eight year time span, and discovered that by eating one square of dark chocolate on a daily basis, participants had a nearly 40% lower chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke. In addition, a study at the University of Nottingham found that eating dark chocolate boosts blood flow to the brain, which aids a person’s ability to remain alert and learn.
While eating dark chocolate may be good for your health, not all dark chocolate bars are created equal. Be sure to check the ingredients listed and make sure that “cocoa solids” are listed first rather than sugar. Cocoa solids are where the majority of the flavonoids are contained that will help boost your health and cognition.
Lastly, be sure to not go overboard. In this case, you definitely can have too much of a good thing. Enjoy a “piece” of dark chocolate here and there, instead of devouring bars each day and blaming it on the benefits of flavanoids.
