Finally, something from the candy aisle that’s actually good for you! Chocolate with 70% or more cacao (AKA dark chocolate) is full of beneficial nutrients. While not as tasty as milk or white chocolate by default, it’s not hard to grow to like the taste of dark chocolate over time. This is especially true once you learn how many good benefits it has! If you don’t like the idea of chewing on a bar of dark chocolate, consider getting dark chocolate covered berries, or drinking dark chocolate-based hot chocolate. You’ll want to find some way to eat dark chocolate after reading about these 5 Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate!
5 Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
1. Reduces Stress
Ever wondered why chocolate makes you feel better? Aside from the yummy taste-boosting your mood, dark chocolate also prompts your body to release endorphins. Endorphins are hormones that make you feel happy and like everything is okay. Dark chocolate also includes the ingredient tryptophan, which the brain uses to produce the mood stabilizer serotonin. So if you eat chocolate you’ll become happier and less stressed!
2. Hardens Tooth Enamel
One of the lesser known benefits of dark chocolate is that it helps harden your tooth enamel. That’s because cacao contains theobromine, which is believed to strengthen tooth enamel even better than fluoride. So if you eat dark chocolate in moderation, and are careful not to choose a variety full of sugar, eating chocolate may actually be beneficial for your teeth!
3. Fights Disease
Did you know that in terms of antioxidants and fighting free radicals, dark chocolate may actually be better for you than Acai berries? The antioxidant flavonoids in cocoa may help reduce your risk of developing cancer, type 2 diabetes, or even asthma! These amazing benefits of dark chocolate mean that while you’re enjoying a yummy chocolate bar, you’re actually allowing your body to lower its chance of developing all sorts of diseases and disorders!
4. Improves Brain Function
One of the many benefits of dark chocolate is that it helps improve your brain function. In particular, it increases how much blood flows to your brain. This, in turn, aids your memory, critical thinking abilities, focus, and reaction time. Combine that with dark chocolate’s mood-boosting abilities, and a bar of dark chocolate becomes essential to any problem-solving session!
5. Helps Your Skin
Because of the many benefits of dark chocolate, dark chocolate can actually be just as good for you on the outside as on the inside. Those flavonoids that help reduce your risk of cancer also help your skin protect itself from sun damage. And while it’s helping you feel less stressed, it’s also reducing how many stress hormones break down your skin’s collagen. Eat enough dark chocolate over time and your skin will look and feel so much better!
Do you like dark chocolate? You may also want to check out Coconut Oil Uses And Benefits.
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