Is Dark Chocolate Actually Good For Your Health?

Lower Blood Pressure

A study from Harvard University indicated dark chocolate with a minimum of fifty percent cocoa helps lower blood pressure in all of the study’s participants, but had the most significant results in lowering blood pressure in those suffering from hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. When hypertension goes without treatment and control, it significantly increases the risk for serious health conditions, such as heart failure, heart disease, vision loss, stroke, kidney disease, and even heart attacks. Although patients with hypertension will likely need to do more than just a square or two of dark chocolate every day, it certainly cannot hurt! Besides, this is certainly a delicious way to lower blood pressure, and the other ways, such as cutting out red meat, certainly won’t be nearly as delicious.

Brain getting you down? Keep reading to learn how dark chocolate can boost cognitive function.

Boost Brain Function

According to research, regularly consuming high-quality dark chocolate is linked to improving cognitive performance, including visual-spatial awareness, working memory, and abstract reasoning. British psychologists have provided evidence indicating the flavonols in dark chocolate helps individuals with mental math. Their study included a number test conducted before and after consuming dark chocolate. This study may also apply to other kinds of chocolate, however dark chocolate has a higher percentage of cocoa and subsequently more flavanols than milk or white chocolate, resulting in the effects on mental math and other aspects of cognitive performance will be more profound with dark chocolate.

Studies have also indicated a link between promoting healthy fetal growth and pregnancy. Keep reading to find out more.