Do you enjoy occasional or frequent squares of dark chocolate? For the past years, studies have shown the potential health benefits of consuming dark chocolates in cardiovascular conditions including lowering blood pressure. But while some chocolate lovers view chocolate as a healthy food, others see it as a guilty pleasure which may also pose health threats. So, what do you think it is? Is dark chocolate good or bad for us?
Chocolates are not created equal. Dark chocolate is unique in its own rights. Dark chocolate’s halo comes from cocoa that contains flavonoids that are loaded with organic compounds that are biologically active. These flavonoids are a type of polyphenol that are a group of phytochemicals and flavonols have anti-inflammatory properties which may help protect against cardiovascular disease.
If you buy quality dark chocolates with high cocoa content that contain a decent amount of soluble fiber and are also loaded with minerals. A 100 gram bar of dark chocolate with 70-85% cocoa contains 11 grams of fiber, 67% of iron, 58% of magnesium, 89% of copper, 98% of manganese, and traces of potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium.
But how does dark chocolate seem to benefit our heart? Dark chocolate’s properties in controlling blood pressure have been thought to be connected with the presence of flavonols which can relax the arteries which eventually lower the blood pressure and reduce the risk for heart diseases. Apart from which, it also appears to be highly protective against the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which helps in bringing down the bad fats.
The bottom line is that dark chocolates can provide health benefits being especially protective against heart disease. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should go all out and consume lots of chocolate every day. It is still loaded with calories and easy to overeat. Maybe have a square or two after dinner and try to really savor them. If you want the benefits of cocoa without the calories in chocolate, consider making a hot cocoa without any cream or sugar.
NO II Joanna Marie E. Baltazar
References:
- What are the health benefits of dark chocolate?
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dark-chocolate
- Chocolate and prevention of cardiovascular disease: A systematic review
https://nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-7075-3-2
- Are there health benefits from chocolate?
https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/02/12/are-there-health-benefits-from-chocolate