Valentine’s Day is a holiday where dreams come true. This opinion comes from chocolate lovers everywhere, as this wonderful occasion would be incomplete without decadent treats covered, filled, or crafted from chocolate. Around the month of February, you can’t go into a gas station, bank, retail store, or eatery without being bombarded by chocolate. While dressing it up in red and pink wrappers makes it more tempting for those who claim to be watching their figure, those who have a deep love for chocolate don’t need any encouragement to indulge. If you are looking for an excuse to unwrap that piece if dark chocolate candy, simply chalk up your snack to the healthy and nutritional benefits found in chocolate and cocoa powder.
Don’t Shoot the Messenger
When it comes to chocolate, many people choose to overlook the good and go straight to attacking the bad. It is true that eating too much chocolate that is highly processed, full of artificial flavors, and loaded with additional corn syrup is bad for your health and could contribute to excess belly fat. However, you can’t just cross this notionally potent item off your grocery list. Everything in life should be done in moderation, and this includes your dietary choices. Take a moment and open your mind to the potential cocoa powder holds to improving your life. Cocoa and chocolate have been used for centuries as a health-promoting medicine, and when sources and prepared properly, you can also reap the benefits.
Rich in Natural Antioxidants
Your body benefits from natural antioxidants, such as the polyphenols that are found in chocolate. These body-boosting elements have been linked to reduced inflammation, improved cholesterol, lower blood pressure, better blood flow, and regulate blood sugar levels. In nature, cocoa is one of the richest sources of these antioxidants, although flavanols have an even greater concentration of antioxidant properties. However, many people choose to use cocoa powder for cooking and baking, but the exposure to heat causes it to lose some of its beneficial properties. It is much more effective to use a supplement of cocoa flavanols that isn’t highly processed over consuming an entire pan of brownies.
High in Nitric Oxide
Either consumed in the form of dark chocolate or in powdered form, the body uses cocoa to improve the nitric oxide levels on the blood. These levels are what help regulate and reduce blood pressure, as well as improve the effectiveness of blood vessels traveling throughout the body. Studies with flavanols have shown that even consuming less than four ounces of cocoa products had the ability to reduce almost 2mmHG in blood pressure. This isn’t a push to go out and buy some candy bars. The processing journey of a chocolate bar strips away many of these flavanols, leaving with pure supplement choices or unprocessed cocoa as your best bet for improving your circulatory system.
Heart Disease Prevention
It estimated that one out of every four deaths in the U.S. is linked to heart disease or a heart attack. Studies have shown that the properties of cocoa may reduce the risk of suffering from either a stroke or a heart attack. Since the flavanols boost the nitric oxide levels in the blood, the resulting effect of dilatated blood vessels and arteries improves the overall blood flow. The additional ability to reduce inflammation, improve blood sugar levels, and create blood-thinning effects help boost your immunity to heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes. Studies found that an ounce a day of high-quality dark chocolate can have this impact on your heart health.
With so much potential for improved health, you should never apologize for your love of chocolate again. Follow a well-balanced diet and rigorous exercise plan, but don’t be afraid to throw in a sweet, dark, chocolatey snack every now and then.
