Is Dark Chocolate Actually Good For Your Health?

Reduce LDL Cholesterol Levels

Research and trials have indicated cocoa powder can significantly reduce oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which occurs when LDL cholesterol reacts with free radicals. This reaction makes LDL cholesterol, or the ‘bad’ cholesterol, able to damage other tissues in the body, such as the lining of the arteries in the heart. Cocoa powder, the prime ingredient in dark chocolate, is full of powerful antioxidants which, as the name suggests, protects against damage from oxidation.

Dark chocolate is also higher in flavonoids, which have been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol even when oxidation is not involved. High levels of LDL cholesterol have been linked to a higher risk of developing heart disease. Additionally, high cholesterol means fatty deposits in the blood, which impedes the flow of oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. When blood flow is reduced to the heart, the risk of a heart attack increases, and when it is reduced to the brain, the risk of a stroke increases.

Continue reading to learn about the minerals in dark chocolate and how they help your health.

Rich In Minerals

Minerals are essential for a healthy body and to prevent various medical conditions. Since dark chocolate is rich in minerals, it is a good source for filling out a balanced diet. Of course, there are more minerals in chocolate with a higher cocoa percentage, so the darker the chocolate, the better.

The average dark chocolate bar with seventy to eighty-five percent cocoa has approximately eleven grams of fiber, as well as lots of potassium, zinc, phosphorus, and selenium. Additionally, it has sixty-seven percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for iron, fifty-eight percent for magnesium, eighty-nine percent for copper, and ninety-eight percent for manganese. Benefits of sufficient iron, for instance, include treating iron-deficiency anemia, boosting energy, promoting a healthy pregnancy, and improving body temperature regulation. Magnesium benefits include reducing anxiety, improving energy, relieving constipation, reducing insomnia, and preventing migraines.

Continue reading to learn how dark chocolate can lower blood pressure.