7 health benefits of chocolate

We all love to eat chocolates, most of us do it. And it turns out that chocolate, in addition to being tasty, also has a host of health benefits. Made from the seed of cocoa, it is one of the best sources of antioxidants on the planet.

Studies show that dark chocolate can improve health and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Here are 7 health benefits of dark chocolate or cocoa that are backed by science.

Nutritious: Chocolate with a high cocoa content is actually quite nutritious. It contains a decent amount of soluble fiber and is loaded with minerals. It also has a lot of potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium

Source of Antioxidants: ORAC stands for "ability to absorb oxygen radicals". This is a measure of the antioxidant activity of foods. Dark chocolate is loaded with organic compounds that are biologically active and function as antioxidants. These include polyphenols, flavanols and catechins, among others

Improves blood flow and lowers blood pressure: Flavanols in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium, the wall arteries, to produce nitric oxide

The NO signals the loosening of the arteries, which decreases the resistance to blood flow and thus reduces the arterial pressure.

Raises HDL and protects LDL from oxidation: Eating dark chocolate can improve several important risk factors. for heart disease. In a controlled study, cocoa powder was found to significantly reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol in men. Oxidized LDL means that LDL ("bad" cholesterol) has reacted with free radicals.

Dark chocolate can also reduce insulin resistance, which is another common cause of cholesterol. risk factor for many diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

May reduce the risk of heart disease: The compounds in dark chocolate appear to strongly protect against the oxidation of LDL, which should result in lowering of cholesterol. arteries, resulting in a lower risk of heart disease

In a study of 470 older men, cocoa was found to reduce the risk of death from heart disease by a whopping 50 percent over a period of 15 years.

Can protect the skin from the sun: Bioactive compounds in dark chocolate can also be beneficial for the skin because flavonols can protect against sun damage, improve blood flow to the skin and increase Density and hydration

I improve brain function: Studies show that dark chocolate can also improve brain function. A study of healthy volunteers showed that eating high-flavanol cocoa for five days improves blood flow to the brain. Cocoa can also significantly improve cognitive function in older people with mental disorders. It can also improve fluency and several risk factors for illness.