10 Awesome Benefits of Eating Chocolate

With Easter just gone, no doubt it has left feelings of guilt in some who gorged on lots of chocolate! So, what better time is there to discuss the benefits of eating chocolate to remove the aforementioned guilt and justify our binges?! And after some research, we've managed to unravel some pretty some pretty fantastic benefits.

The secret to chocolate’s health benefits lie in the high number of flavonoids it contains. Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds found in fruits, vegetables, red wine and tea that have diverse beneficial biochemical and antioxidant effects.

Now I just want to point out early on in this article that unfortunately milk chocolate does not provide anywhere near the amount of benefits that dark chocolate does, and milk chocolate unfortunately has none. So, grab yourself a (small) bar of dark chocolate and let’s get started!

1. Dark Chocolate Is Very Nutritious

Did you know that dark chocolate is loaded with important nutrients that can positively affect your health? Chocolate that contains 70-85% cocoa is rich in Fibre, Iron, Magnesium, Copper and Manganese. It also has plenty of Potassium, Phosphorus, Zinc and Selenium. However, it also contains a considerable amount of sugar and fat, so although very nutritious, moderation is key.

2. A Powerful Source of Antioxidants

Cocoa and dark chocolate have a wide variety of powerful antioxidants, way more than most other foods. In fact, raw unprocessed cocoa beans have one of the highest amounts of antioxidants of all food. However, dark chocolate is also high in antioxidants as a result of being high in polyphenols, flavanols and catechins.

Researchers at the National Institute of Public Health and Environment in Holland found that dark chocolate contains almost four times the amount of antioxidants found in black tea.

Antioxidants help your body resist and repair oxidative damage caused by free radicals like cigarette smoke, sunlight and pollution. Since oxidative damage over time can lead to diabetes, cancer and heart disease, doctors and nutritionists unilaterally recommend a diet that includes antioxidant-rich foods.

3. Protection Against Sun Damage

It seems the flavonols in chocolate can protect against sun-induced damage, as well as improving blood flow to the skin and increasing skin density and hydration.

Chocolate sunscreen anyone? In a study of 30 people who consumed chocolate high in flavaols for 12 weeks, there showed a significant reduction in the number of UVB rays needed to cause sunburn. Of course, this shouldn’t replace regular care taken in the sun.

Subjects who ate conventional low-flavanol chocolate didn't get the same sun protection. Watch for brands boasting high levels of the healthy compounds.

4. Improves Brain Function

A University of Nottingham researcher found that drinking cocoa rich in flavanols boosts blood flow to key parts of the brain for 2 to 3 hours, which could improve performance and alertness in the short term.

Other researchers from Oxford University and Norway looked at chocolate's long-term effects on the brain by studying the diets of more than 2,000 people over age 70. They found that those who consumed flavanol-rich chocolate, wine, or tea scored significantly higher on cognitive tests than those who didn't.

5. Cocoa Protects Against Cardiovascular Disease

The latest research backs up claims that chocolate has cardiovascular benefits: In a 9-year Swedish study of more than 31,000 women, those who ate one or two servings of dark chocolate each week cut their risk for heart failure by as much as a third.

Another big, long-term study in Germany found that about a square of dark chocolate a day lowered blood pressure and reduced risk of heart attack and stroke by 39 percent. Most of the credit goes to flavonoids, antioxidant compounds that increase the flexibility of veins and arteries.

6. Dark Chocolate is Even Good For Diabetics

In a small Italian study, participants who ate a small bar of dark chocolate for 15 days saw their potential for insulin resistance drop by nearly half. This is because "Flavonoids increase nitric oxide production," says lead researcher Claudio Ferri, M.D., a professor at the University of L'Aquila in Italy. "And that helps control insulin sensitivity."

7. Dark Chocolate Keeps you Satisfied For Longer

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen found that dark chocolate is far more filling, offering more of a feeling of satiety than milk chocolate. So dark chocolate actually lessens cravings for sweet, salty, and fatty foods. So if indulging in a bit of healthy dark chocolate should not only make it easy for you to stick to the small portion recommended for optimal health, but it should make it easier for you to stick to your diet in general!

8. Chocolate Lowers Stress

Swiss scientists discovered that when anxious people ate approximlatey 40 grams of dark chocolate every day for two weeks, their stress hormone levels were significantly reduced and the metabolic effects of stress were partially mitigated.

9. Improves Coughs and Trots

One study found that chocolate quieted coughs almost as well as codeine, thanks to the theobromine it contains. This chemical, responsible for chocolate's feel-good effect, may suppress activity in a part of the brain called the vagus nerve. So just as good as codeine but without the negative side effects!

And what’s this about helping with the trots? Well, both South American and European cultures have a history that dates back to the 16th century of treating diarrhoea with cocoa and modern-day science has shown they were onto something.

Scientists at the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute found that cocoa flavonoids bind to a protein that regulates fluid secretion in the small intestine, potentially stopping the trots in their tracks. Nice!

10. Increases Sexual Desire and Arousal

Eating chocolate leads to higher levels of desire, arousal, and sexual satisfaction, according to a study from an Italian university reported in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Female participants who consumed at least one cube of chocolate a day experienced more active libidos and better overall sexual function than those who didn't indulge.

This is because chocolate contains a compound called phenylethylamine (PEA), which releases the same mood-altering endorphins that flood our bodies during sex and intensify feelings of attraction between two people.

So there we have it, 10 amazing reasons to get stuck into that dark chocolate! However, this doesn’t mean consuming large amounts, as it is still loaded with calories.

Also be aware that a lot of the chocolate on the market is sugary rubbish. What you want is the good quality stuff with 70% or higher cocoa content. Dark chocolate generally contains sugar, but the amounts are usually small and the darker the chocolate, the less sugar it will contain.

Wow! How much do you feel like eating more chocolate after reading this article? I know I do. Happy munching everyone!