Love to have dark chocolates?: Know how it can benefit you

Dark chocolate is a form of chocolate containing cocoa solids and cocoa butter, without milk or butter found in milk chocolate. Dark chocolate without no added milk solids.

The basic ingredient is cocoa beans, sugar, an emulsifier like soy lecithin to preserve textures, and flavourings such as vanilla. The more cocoa and less sugar dark chocolate have, the more bitter it tastes.

Dark chocolate is best when consumed in moderation.

Studies show that dark chocolate can improve health and lower the risk of heart disease. It contains a decent amount of soluble fibre and is loaded with minerals. A 100-gram bar of dark chocolate with 70-85% cocoa contains 11-gram fibre, 67% of the RDI for Iron, 58%of the RDI for Magnesium, 98% of the RDI for Copper, plenty of Potassium, Phosphorus, Zinc and Selenium.

The fatty acid profile of cocoa and dark chocolate is excellent. The fats are mostly saturated and monounsaturated, with small amounts of polyunsaturated fat. It also contains stimulates like caffeine and theobromine but is unlikely to keep you awake at nights.

Dark chocolate is loaded with organic compounds that are biologically active and functions as antioxidants.

Dark chocolate even has a great contribution in improving the cognitive functions of elderly people. It contains stimulants like caffeine and theobromine, which improve brain function in short term

Some controlled studies have shown that cocoa and dark chocolate can improve blood flow and lower blood pressure, though the effects are usually mild.

The cocoa content in dark chocolate reduces the oxidized LDL cholesterol in men. In this context, the oxidized LDL means the LDL(bad cholesterol) has reacted with free radicals.

Dark chocolate also reduces insulin resistance, which is a common risk factor for many diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

The bioactive compounds in dark chocolate may be great for your skin. The flavonols can protect against sun damage, improve blood flow to the skin and increase skin density and hydration.

Dark chocolate even has a great contribution in improving the cognitive functions of elderly people. It contains stimulants like caffeine and theobromine, which improve brain function in short term.