Chocolate is also used as a gift, but it has some health benefits.
The health benefits of chocolate are amazing, such as supporting circulatory system, stimulating mind, fighting mental disorders, & relieving stress.
It may be bad news for most people that the world is about to run out of chocolate. Yes, it really is.
Some of the benefits of chocolate are detailed below:
Chocolate Gives Energy:
If you’re trying to cut down on your intake but struggle to get through the day without your caffeine fix, dark chocolate may be the perfect answer.
Because every 100 grams of it contains 43 mg of caffeine. Thanks to dark chocolate’s ability to improve blood flow and consequently transport oxygen to the muscles at a faster rate.
Chocolate can Prevent Blood Clotting:
Chocolate polyphenols can increase blood flow. By widening your blood vessels and increasing blood flow, it can help reduce your risk of blood clots.
Chocolate is Good for your Mental Health:
Apart from making you smile when you eat it, chocolate also has positive effects on the brain.
Chocolate helps regulate the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine, and can also help improve mood.
Chocolate can make you Happy:
Science agrees that chocolate makes you happy and not just because it tastes amazing, but because chocolate contains chemicals that make it irresistible.
This is an organic compound that induces feelings of falling in love when excreted in the body.
It also acts as an anti-depressant by combining with dopamine, which is naturally present in the brain.
With its theobromine and tryptophan content among other properties of chocolate that promote happiness and provide a natural boost, it’s easy to see and understand why chocolate is considered a certified mood booster.
One study reported that participants who consumed dark chocolate had a lower risk of heart disease.
Chocolate may Reduce risk of heart disease:
One study reported that participants who consumed dark chocolate had a lower risk of heart disease.
Chocolate is believed to be beneficial in preventing calcified plaque in the arteries.
Cocoa may be even more beneficial, and foods containing more cocoa than dark chocolate have been emphasized.
So, if you’re not a fan of dark chocolate, trying foods with flavanols like apples and green tea can be helpful.
Chocolate can Protect Your Skin:
A 2006 study found that the flavonoids in dark chocolate help absorb UV light, increase blood flow to the skin, improve skin texture, and increase skin hydration.
Dark chocolate is rich in flavanols that fight inflammation and oxidative stress, explaining why they can help promote healthier skin.
Although research shows that regular consumption of flavanol-rich chocolate can help protect against sunburn.
Disadvantages of Chocolate:
Some of the Disadvantages of chocolate are detailed below:
Chocolate Lacks Vitamins and Minerals:
Chocolate lacks vitamins and minerals. Eating it instead of a healthy snack can have harmful effects on your health, as it contains some beneficial nutrients that are not harmful, but also includes ingredients that can be harmful.
Chocolate is not a significant source of vitamins, offering only 8 percent of the daily recommended amount of calcium and 2 percent of the daily recommended amount of iron.
Eating too much Chocolate can Lead to Obesity:
Chocolate is also relatively high in fat. Dark chocolate has 12 grams of fat per ounce, including 7 grams of unhealthy saturated fat.
If you consume 2,000 calories per day, this amount includes 7 percent of the daily value for fat and 35 percent of dark chocolate for saturated fat.
Milk chocolate contains 9 grams of fat per ounce, including 5 grams of saturated fat. Fat contains more calories per gram than protein or carbohydrates, so if you eat a lot of high-fat foods or chocolate, you may have trouble staying within your daily calorie limit.
Additionally, consuming too much saturated fat can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Chocolate is High in Calories:
Chocolate is relatively energy dense, meaning that only a small amount provides a large number of calories.
An ounce of dark chocolate contains 170 calories and an ounce of milk chocolate contains 153 calories.
One ounce is a little more than 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips.
Chocolate is High in Sugar:
Sugar provides calories without any essential nutrients. According to the American Heart Association, women should eat no more than 25 grams and men no more than 38 grams of sugar per day.
Each ounce of dark chocolate contains 6.8 grams of sugar, and one ounce of milk chocolate provides 15 grams of sugar.
Chocolate can be Harmful to Dental health:
Some types of chocolate are high in sugar, So like other sweet things, eating too much chocolate can damage your teeth.
Read also this: 8 Important Benefits of Not Consuming Sugar
