Chocolate is the most delicious foods in existence. No matter how you consume it, whether as a candy bar, a hot beverage, or a drizzle over ice cream, chocolate is a happy food.
Although it is wonderful, not all chocolate is healthy or even chocolate at all. For instance, white chocolate doesn’t have any cocoa solids. That indicates that it is mostly a dessert. But dark chocolate benefits are numerous.
Is dark chocolate healthy?
Dark chocolate rises head and shoulders above other varieties. Comparing dark chocolate to milk or white chocolate, less added sugar and fat are present. It also boasts an abundance of beneficial antioxidants called flavonoids.
Milk chocolate and dark chocolate have similar ingredients, including cocoa butter, sugar and cocoa solids. The two kinds of chocolate differ in their percentage of cocoa solids, however Dark chocolate has between 50% and 90% cocoa solids, and milk chocolate has between 10% and 50%.
In addition to being lower in sugar, here are other dark chocolate benefits:
Rich in flavanols
Flavanols are related to the production of nitric oxide, which relaxes your blood vessels and improves blood flow.
Source of important minerals
Dark chocolate is packed full of important minerals, including iron, magnesium, zinc, copper and phosphorus. In your body, these minerals are used to support factors such as immunity (zinc), can help keep your bones and teeth healthy (phosphorus), and contribute to better sleep quality (magnesium).
Protects skin from sun damage
The antioxidants in dark chocolate improve blood flow to your skin and protect it from sun damage and also dark chocolate can protect your skin from the effects of UV (ultraviolet) rays.
How Much Dark Chocolate Can you Eat Every Day?
The recommended “dose” is approximately 1 to 2 ounces or 30-60g, experts say. Indulge in anything more than that, and you may be consuming too many calories.
Sum-up
Although there are some downsides, dark chocolate is overall a healthier choice if you’re looking for a delicious way to finish off a meal. You’ll need less of it to get satisfaction than you would from other sweets.
Dark chocolate is comforting. It signals to your brain that you’re satisfied and finished. And it is satiety-inducing (feeling satisfied), so you are more likely to feel like you’ve had enough.
