Dark Chocolate — Heavenly but not Sinful
Everyone knows how chocolate tastes. But if you travelled back thousands of years, you’d find that chocolate was considered sort of sacred, and deemed a specialty food in ancient Mesoamerica.
The Maya and the Aztecs believed that cacao was discovered by the Gods in a mountain and meant to be given to humans after their birth. The cacao tree was their most prized crop.
What was difficult for me to believe when I first read about it was that that the chocolate consumed at that time was very different from the chocolate we know of today. It was consumed in the form of a warm liquid, laden with chili powder and other spices and known for its medicinal and healing qualities.
But all of that changed when the Spanish moved into Mesoamerica. They weren’t too enthusiastic about the ‘hot’ and spicy taste and took it to Europe only after sweetening it with honey and cane sugar.
That was a glimpse into the history of Dark chocolate. It’s been around for over 3000 years and was once considered to be a ‘gift’ of the Gods. Perhaps that’s why some people say that Dark Chocolate is ‘heavenly’ 😊
I would add ‘Heavenly and Medicinal’. Yep, that’s right.
Dark Chocolate hasn’t lost its ‘healing’ qualities and has health benefits I’m sure you’d like to hear about.
So all you chocolate lovers out there; I’m going to give you at least 5 reasons why you shouldn’t feel guilty about ‘feasting’ on your favorite dark chocolate.
Well, don’t feast but have it in moderation.
I digress. Let’s begin.
Dark chocolate is made from the seed of the cacao tree and is loaded with antioxidants. Studies have shown that the right kind of dark chocolate can improve your health and lower the risk of heart disease.
Which is the right kind of dark chocolate?
Dark chocolate that contains at least 70% of cacao is considered healthy.
Here are 6 health benefits of eating dark chocolate.
1. Dark Chocolate is nutritious
Chocolates that contain 70% to 85% of cocoa are high in soluble fiber and are loaded with minerals. A 100-gm bar contains 11 grams of fiber.
However, 100 grams is a large amount and you shouldn’t be eating that much every day. Although nutritious, 100 grams contains 600 calories and added sugar, so it’s best to have it in moderation.
2. It is a source of antioxidants
ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) is a measure of the antioxidant activity of food. Meaning, the extent to which antioxidants in the food disarm the free radicals that are bad for us.
Dark chocolate lovers will be pleased to know that raw, unprocessed cocoa beans score one of the highest points when it comes to antioxidant activity.
Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants that include polyphenols, flavanols and catechins, among others.
One study showed that cocoa and dark chocolate have more antioxidant activity than many other foods, including blueberries.
3. Can improve blood flow and reduce blood pressure
The flavanols in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium (a thin membrane that lines the inside of the heart and blood vessels) to produce more Nitric Oxide (NO). NO relaxes the arteries, which allows blood to flow more easily, thereby reducing its pressure.
Bear in mind, that these were controlled studies and much more needs to be done to ascertain the existence of a direct link between dark chocolate and lowering of blood pressure.
4. Raises HDL and lowers LDL
Controlled studies show that cocoa significantly reduces oxidized LDL in men. Oxidized LDL is bad because it has reacted with free radicals and can in turn react against tissues in the body and damage them, including the lining of arteries in the heart.
The antioxidants in cocoa, protect the lipoprotein against oxidative damage.
5. Dark Chocolate can reduce insulin resistance and lower the risk of heart disease
Studies have shown that the flavanols in dark chocolate can increase nitric oxide availability and decrease cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.
This helps reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Since the antioxidants in dark chocolate protect against the oxidization of LDL, a lesser amount of cholesterol gets lodged in the arteries, lowering the risk of heart disease.
6. It can improve the functioning of the brain
Studies show that dark chocolate with a high content of flavanol improves the flow of blood to the brain. Another study showed that flavanol increased cognitive ability in elderly people with mental impairment.
Note: Although studies showing that dark chocolate reduces the risk of heart disease are mostly observational, it does lower blood pressure and decreases oxidized LDL, giving us sufficient reason to believe that regularly eating dark chocolate can reduce the risk of heart disease.
Final Word
While dark chocolate tastes great and has many health benefits like lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease, be careful not to overeat. It is loaded with calories so go easy on it.
Dark chocolate does contain sugar but it’s usually in smaller quantities than that found in regular chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the less sugar it contains.
The best kind of dark chocolate to have is that with 70% or higher cocoa content.
So go ahead and enjoy but don’t overeat!
I hope you found this useful. Feedback of any kind is welcomed, so comment below or email me at rlemos@mindwizzards.com.
Sincerely,
Ryan
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