Before holding back from eating chocolate, how about we give you 7 reasons you should without feeling guilty? Dark chocolate may seem indulgent and something you should only be eating occasionally, but it actually offers a lot of benefits. Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy if you love dark chocolate!
It can boost your brainpower
Are you gearing up for an important test, or perhaps a big presentation and you want to be at your best? Give your brain some much-needed boost by eating dark chocolate. The chocolate will give you added alertness which can last for up to three hours.
It may reduce inflammation
If you are suffering from chronic inflammation, you are more at risk of getting more serious diseases like diabetes or arthritis. It’s a good thing that there are studies that have shown that those who eat at least 70% dark chocolate can reduce inflammation.
It is a good source of antioxidants
Did you know that dark chocolate is one of the best sources of antioxidants? There was even a study that shows that cocoa and dark chocolate may have more than other fruits included in the study, which included acai berries.
What antioxidants do is fight free radicals which can cause a lot of damage to our bodies. Some of these are the acceleration of the aging process, damage to the nerve cells of the brain and the increased risk of certain diseases.
They can also be great for your skin as they increase the hydration of your skin, making it less prone to damage from the sun.
It can reduce the chances of heart disease
There are certain factors that can increase the risk of heart disease. One of them is those with high cholesterol, those with high LDL or bad cholesterol.
But a study conducted has shown that consuming dark chocolate regularly can greatly increase the HDL in your body and lower the total LDL too. They help to make sure that there will be significantly less cholesterol that will be lodged in your arteries.
It can decrease the risk of death due to heart disease by as much as 50%. Thi sis based on a study done over a 15 year period among elderly men.
It may lower the risk of stroke
In the same way that dark chocolate can lower the risk of heart disease, it does the same for those at risk for stroke. While more studies may be needed to make this an accepted fact, it seems that people who ate dark chocolate for more than five times per week can reduce their risk.
Of course, you will need to make sure that you are eating the right type of chocolate and the right amount.
It can improve your blood sugar levels
If you are at risk of developing diabetes, you need to make sure that your blood sugar is always controlled. This means avoiding many types of food which may increase your blood sugar levels.
The good news is that dark chocolate does not belong to the list of foods to avoid. It seems that dark chocolate can help the way your body processes glucose.
It is a great way to improve your mood
Most people look for something either sweet or salty when they want to improve their mood. If you need something that would make you feel good but now guilty, better stock up on dark chocolate,
They can help you de-stress after an overwhelming day. But not only that, they are the perfect way to reward yourself for a job well done.
Recipes that make use of Dark Chocolate
Now that you know just how beneficial dark chocolate for your health, here are a couple of recipes you might want to try for your next meal.
Chocolate Banana Bread
If you’re tired of the usual banana bread, make it even better by adding some dark chocolate to your recipe. This Chocolate Banana Bread will surely be a hit with your girlfriends during a brunch meetup. What makes this recipe amazing is that you easily customize it by adding more of your favorite ingredients.
Aside from the dark chocolate, you can also add some peanut butter or even dried fruits. You can make this. in advance and even freeze it for up to two months.
Keto Chocolate Cake
Many people who are not fans of the keto diet say that it is very restrictive, but here is a Keto Chocolate Cake recipe that proves that you can eat healthily but still feel very satisfied. Make sure to buy sugar-free dark chocolate kind as you cannot just use any kind of sugar when baking this.Â
The next time you get those sweet cravings, opt for a bar of dark chocolate instead. Or better yet, try some of the fool-proof dark chocolate recipes.
