Could chocolate really be healthy for you?
Absolutely, but not just any kind of chocolate.
I’m talking about dark chocolate with its signature bitter and deep flavour, rich with antioxidants and minerals.
If you’re a chocolate lover like me, then you’ll appreciate being able to improve your health with this special treat by knowing how to buy it and the health benefits you can get from eating it.
HOW TO BUY DARK CHOCOLATE
A good quality dark chocolate contains more than 80% cacao and only a few simple ingredients from an organic and fair-trade company.
There should be no dairy or additives like lecithin, trans fats, or artificial flavouring. It may contain a little sugar to balance the bitter taste – just make sure it’s the last ingredient listed and preferably sweetened with natural sugars like maple, coconut, or stevia.
Some of my favourite brands are Alter Eco, Green & Black’s, and Camino.
Once you’ve bought the right kind of dark chocolate, you can enjoy it regularly (but in moderation, of course) knowing that you’re improving your health with these health benefits:
BRAIN BOOSTER
Dark chocolate is rich in flavanols, an antioxidant found to be beneficial for improving learning and memory. One of dark chocolate’s flavanols, epicatechin, has been shown to effectively cross the blood brain barrier within 30 minutes and reach peak effectiveness in 2-3 hours, with the benefits lasting 6-8 hours.
REDUCES INFLAMMATION
The polyphenols in dark chocolate have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects, helping to reduce overall inflammation in the body. While inflammation is your body’s first line of defense against trouble, too much is unhealthy for the gut and overall health. Controlling inflammation is pretty important!
SOURCE OF MINERALS
Dark chocolate is an amazing source of minerals, which are essential to your health. It contains magnesium which is responsible for over 300 enzyme functions in your body, iron which helps improve oxygen and energy, and zinc which is important for supporting the immune system.
IMPROVES MOOD
Dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins are all neurotransmitters in the brain that help to control appetite, reward, and mood. Chocolate has been shown to interact with these neurotransmitters to improve mood. However, don’t take this as an excuse to eat your emotions!
LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE
Much can be said about the cardioprotective effects of dark chocolate through its rich antioxidant properties, such as its ability to improve vasodilation to lower blood pressure. This is helpful in reducing stress and improving kidney function too.
HELPS WITH WEIGHT LOSS
Choosing dark chocolate over milk chocolate can also help with weight loss by helping you feel more satiated which can reduce cravings and total energy intake. While I wouldn’t use it as a weight loss tool per say, including a little dark chocolate in your nutrition framework is a great way to stay focused, satisfied, and healthy.
INCREASES INSULIN SENSITIVITY
Oxidative stress is considered one of the main reasons for insulin resistance. Luckily, the flavanols in dark chocolate have been shown to reduce oxidative stress, while also improving endothelial function and glucose metabolism – helping to increase insulin sensitivity. This is important for weight control, metabolic disorders, and diabetes prevention.
REDUCES STRESS
It’s no secret that chocolate helps reduce stress, but did you know it’s an actual scientific fact when talking about dark chocolate? Dark chocolate actually helps to lower your stress hormones by stopping the body’s response to the brain’s signals of stress, specifically affecting the adrenals by reducing cortisol and epinephrine.
CONTAINS ANTIOXIDANTS
A single serving of dark chocolate contains more phenolic antioxidants than most foods and five times more in commercial dark chocolate than milk chocolate. Antioxidants protect your body from oxidative stress and help to reduce inflammation and prevent disease.
LESS RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
The cardioprotective component of dark chocolate comes from it’s rich antioxidants, specifically flavanols. Flavanol rich foods may provide some protection for vascular function and health, reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease.
And if you’re ready to reduce your symptoms, improve your health, and heal your gut by getting to the root cause – then book in a consultation with me and let’s get started.
