Why is Chocolate Dark?
Have you ever wondered why chocolate is dark? Is it a manufacturing error? A defect in the cacao bean? A change that happens when the chocolate is exposed to light or heat? Is it something that happens in your mouth?
No, no, no, and no.
The reason chocolate is dark is because it is chocolate.
If you’re not familiar with the journey of chocolate from cacao tree to chocolate bar, here’s a quick overview.
1. Very Good For The Heart
The science is in and it looks like dark chocolate is good for the heart.
Dark chocolate’s flavanols are key for heart health.
In a clinical trial, researchers found that flavanols lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.
The flavanols in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium, the lining of arteries, to produce nitric oxide (NO).
One of the functions of NO is to send signals to the arteries to relax, which lowers the resistance to blood flow and therefore reduces blood pressure.
Many controlled studies show that cocoa and chocolate can lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.
A 2017 clinical trial found that subjects who consumed flavanol-rich cocoa drinks for eight weeks saw an improvement in several measures of cardiovascular health, including blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and cholesterol levels.
The flavanols in dark chocolate can also reduce insulin resistance, which is another common risk factor for diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
Insulin resistance is a condition where the insulin produced by the pancreas is less effective at lowering blood sugar levels, so the body needs more insulin to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range.
One of the reasons chocolate is good for the heart is because it’s high in antioxidants.
Chocolate is rich in a group of antioxidants called flavanols, which may lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.
2. May Decrease Mental Health Issues
Although the evidence is limited, studies indicate that consuming flavanol-rich cocoa or chocolate may lower mental distress and could lower the risk of depression.
Studies suggest that flavanol-rich cocoa or chocolate may lower the risk of cognitive decline.
Conclusion
Over the past two decades, numerous studies have provided evidence that cocoa and chocolate could lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, mainly by lowering blood pressure and improving blood cholesterol levels.
However, much of this evidence is from observational studies, and randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm the benefits.
Nevertheless, flavanol-rich cocoa or chocolate could be considered a healthy part of a balanced diet.
Studies indicate that consuming flavanol-rich cocoa or chocolate may lower mental distress and could lower the risk of depression.
A study in 968 older adults found that those who consumed flavanol-rich cocoa or chocolate were less likely to develop cognitive decline over 5 years compared to those who did not (8).
3. Antioxidants Are Good For The Body
Chocolate is healthy for you, as it is loaded with antioxidants which helps your body in multiple ways.
First of all, antioxidants are good for your general health as they fight the free radicals in your body.
Free radicals are the natural byproducts of your body’s metabolism.
These free radicals can cause damage to your cells if it is not neutralised by the antioxidants.
Dark chocolate is high in flavanols, which are a type of antioxidant that is especially good for your heart health.
Chocolate also contains other nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, zinc and many more.
It also has a reasonable amount of caffeine which is good for your mental focus.
Our bodies also produce free radicals as a result of exercising, so antioxidants are also helpful for athletes.
Studies have shown that consuming antioxidants, in the form of chocolate, after a workout reduces the free radicals in the body and also speeds up the recovery time of muscles.
4. May Increase Weight Loss
Some studies have suggested that dark chocolate can be a healthy part of your weight loss plan.
One study looked at the effects of dark chocolate, which contains healthier fats and is lower in sugar and calories than milk chocolate, on appetite and weight.
The study found that eating dark chocolate before or during a meal decreased the number of calories consumed in that meal.
Over time, this could potentially help with weight loss.
Another study found that eating dark chocolate at least once a week was associated with a lower BMI, or body mass index, which is a measure of body fatness.
This may be because dark chocolate is high in flavanols, which are antioxidants that have been shown to lower BMI in some studies.
However, it’s important to note that these studies were small and more research is needed to confirm the effects of dark chocolate on weight loss.
5. May Lower Blood Pressure
Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content may contain high amounts of sugar and calories but it can also have a surprising number of health benefits.
Studies have shown that consuming flavanol-rich cocoa or chocolate can lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.
In a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, scientists found that flavanol-rich cocoa lowered blood pressure by an average of 2-3 mmHg.
The flavanols in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium, the lining of arteries, to produce nitric oxide (NO).
One of the functions of nitric oxide is to send signals to the arteries to relax, which lowers the resistance to blood flow and therefore reduces blood pressure.
Many controlled studies show that consuming flavanol-rich cocoa or chocolate can lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.
In a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, scientists found that flavanol-rich cocoa lowered blood pressure by an average of 2-3 mmHg.
The flavanols in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium, the lining of arteries, to produce nitric oxide (NO).
Takeaways
Even though some of these benefits of dark chocolate are promising, remember that chocolate is still chocolate.
It’s not some magical food that will make you instantly healthy.
Dark chocolate is very calorically dense and can quickly lead to weight gain if you’re not careful with your portions.
Also, keep in mind that milk and white chocolate are not as beneficial to your health as dark chocolate.
A very small portion of dark chocolate is sufficient and you should only eat it once or twice a week.
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