Exploring the Benefits of Dark Chocolate

According to a popular claim in a 2012 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, countries that lead in the consumption of chocolate also produce a greater number of Nobel Prize winners per capita.

In May 2017, the journal Frontiers in Nutrition published a review of studies focused on the potential health benefits of flavanols. These plant pigments are known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and are present in dark chocolate, cocoa and other foods. The scientists who examined the available evidence determined that cocoa deserves consideration as a nutraceutical tool for improving attention, short-term memory and mental quickness. In other words, it can help offset certain kinds of cognitive decline.

The United States Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health recommends choosing a chocolate bar with more than 70% cocoa to optimize the health benefits you are looking for. That is because products with a lower cocoa content frequently have higher amounts of sugar and other ingredients you want to keep to a minimum. Another way to get your flavanols is by drinking them. Techniques that measure what is happening in the brain, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), have shown that sipping on a cup of cocoa improves blood flow, oxygen levels, and neural functions.

Dark chocolate contains other beneficial organic compounds called polyphenols. Like flavanols, they display antioxidant activity but function in a different way. The main antioxidants in cocoa beans are polyphenols and flavonoids, including catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidins. These compounds help protect the body against oxidative damage and inflammation. Moreover, dark chocolate is also a natural source of fiber, vitamins A, B, E, and K, and minerals, such as iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, and phosphorus. It’s easy to imagine how incorporating moderate amounts of dark chocolate into your diet can provide various health benefits.

Dark chocolate isn’t just a superfood for your brain; it may also improve the efficiency of your circulatory system. A review of relevant studies published in July 2017 found that consuming dark chocolate three times a week lowered the risk of damage to the heart and blood vessels by 9%. Another review released the following year proposed that eating 45 grams of chocolate weekly was optimal for reducing the likelihood of CVD. Remember, a balanced diet is key to maintaining good health, so be sure to enjoy fruits and vegetables like apples, red grapes, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, beans, kale, onions and other nutritious gifts from God.