The Health Benefits of Eating Chocolate

Could Eating Chocolate Be Healthy for You?

Chocolate is often something which is recognized as "poison," or something that you should not eat. It is often put to blame for various types of health effects, such as obesity, acne and even the cavities that you get in your teeth. However, what you may not know is that there are various types of benefits which are associated with eating dark chocolate. Here, we will take a closer look at these benefits, which may encourage you to want to eat more dark chocolate in the future. 

Why is Dark Chocolate Healthier Than Milk Chocolate? 

Although many people tend to prefer milk chocolate, the truth in the matter is that it does not have the healthy benefits to offer that dark chocolate does. The main reason is because chocolate which contains higher levels of cocoa offers the highest number of healthy advantages. What this means is that chocolate containing higher levels of cocoa such as dark chocolate can provide you with more health benefits than milk chocolate, which mainly contains added sweeteners, can. White chocolate, on the other hand, does not even contain any levels of cocoa. This is great news for dark chocolate lovers though!

What are the Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate?

1. One of the best ways to lower your risks of developing cancer is by consuming foods which are high in anti-dioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables. Well, cocoa also contains anti-dioxidants. By eating dark chocolate, you will actually be decreasing your risk of developing cancer.

2. A recent study has shown that dark chocolate has the ability to lower your blood pressure, since it contains flavonoids. The experiment consisted of two groups, one of which who ate dark chocolate and another who ate the same amount of white chocolate once a day for fifteen days. The group who ate the dark chocolate did have a decrease in blood pressure.

3. The flavonoids which are found in dark chocolate are also known to help the blood flow more smoothly through blood vessels, as well as increase the amount of blood that can flow to the brain. This will decrease your risks of having a heart attack in the long run.  

4. Dark chocolate also contains phenylethylamine, which is known to work as an aphrodisiac. It works by stimulating the nervous system, which ultimately will give people  sensual feelings, along with the feeling of being in love.

5. The truth is that chocolate is actually known to be very beneficial to your teeth, which is probably the exact opposite of what you always been told. There are certain substances in the cocoa of chocolate which are known to actually kill off the bacteria that causes your tooth decay, resulting in cavities.

Keep in mind that, when it comes to any of these health benefits, the only type of chocolate that will be able to provide you with them are dark chocolate.  

 Should You Eat More Chocolate?

Although you know that dark chocolate can provide you with many health benefits, one of the main questions that you may have is how often you should actually eat chocolate. The most important thing that you should keep in mind is that, irregardless of the health benefits it can provide you with, you should never overdo the amount of chocolate that you eat. While everything in moderation is okay, chocolate will make you gain weight if you decide to eat it too frequently, just like any other food will. Eating a small piece of chocolate each day will not hurt as much as you would have thought though!

* Adapted from:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/216442//the_health_benefits_of_eating_chocolate.html?cat=5