If you have raised this question 15years ago, everyone would have laughed at you and said "Of course, It is bad!" This is because Chocolates were always seen as the cause of health issues such as diabetic and obesity.
However, things started to change recently. With the rise of Artisan Dark Chocolates, more and more scientific studies had been done on this topic an even prove that;
"Dark Chocolate not only isn't bad for you,
but instead good chocolate actually helps improve your health!"
Though we are not a health expert, we have been doing some read up and is interested to share with you some of the scietific health claims relating to dark chocolate on this page, together with its source. Almost all these claims are referring to dark chocolates with high cacao content, as too much sugar and saturated fat in your diet is definitely a bad thing. We strongly recommend reading up for yourself and making up your own mind :)
Note : The chocolate bars in Pacari contain high cacao ( 60% cacao and above) but low sugar. This means that, if taken in a moderation, you should be able to enjoy its health benefits.
1. Improves Heart Health
In a study of 470 elderly men, cocoa was found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death by a whopping 50% over a 15 year period.
Flavanols are the main type of flavonoid found in dark chocolate. According to Cleveland Clinic, research has shown that flavanols have a very positive effect on heart health by helping lower blood pressure and improving blood flow to the heart as well as the brain. Dark chocolates flavanols can also help make blood platelets less sticky and able to clot, which reduces the risk of blood clots and stroke.
2. Powerful source of Antioxidant
Dark chocolate is loaded with organic compounds that are biologically active and function as antioxidants.
One study showed that cocoa and dark chocolate contained more antioxidant activity, polyphenols and flavanols than other fruits they tested, which included Blueberries and Acai berries
3. Potential Cancer Prevention
It may be hard to believe, but that tasty dark chocolate you eat and love may also help you ward off cancer. American Cancer Institute, one of the benefits of dark chocolate is its potential as a cancer-fighting food
4. May Improve in Brain Function
One study of healthy volunteers showed that 5 days of consuming high-flavanol cacao improved blood flow to the brain.
Cocoa may also significantly improve cognitive function in elderly people with mental impairment. It also improves verbal fluency and several risk factors for disease.
5. Helps in Pregnancy
Recent studies have shown that chocolate improves fetal growth. Some mothers may be at risk for preeclampsia, when the blood supply to the fetus is cut off or restricted. This occurs due to high blood pressure, which is natural during pregnancy. Regular chocolate consumption can reduce the risk of preeclampsia by lowering blood pressure.
Take Home Message
There are quite a number of evidence that dark chocolate provides powerful health benefits. However, it doesn't mean that you can now go all out and eat lots of chocolate everyday. Go for the quality chocolate; Organic, High Cacao content but Low in Sugar. Maybe have one or two square everyday after your dinner. You can slowly savour them and let the chocolate helps to unwind your day.
Reference :
(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16505260/
(2) https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/benefits-of-chocolate-heart-health
(3) http://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate#section3
(4) https://ccj.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/1752-153X-5-5
(5) http://www.alternet.org/food/14-health-benefits-dark-chocolate-according-science
(6) https://draxe.com/benefits-of-dark-chocolate/
(7) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16794461
(8) http://hyper.ahajournals.org/content/60/3/794.short
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