You're sitting there on the sofa mid-Saturday-morning, enjoying the sunny rays of the day, savoring a rich piece of your favorite chocolate then it hits you...the giant-sized Symphony chocolate bar in your hand is nearly gone, and you've only just opened it!
Before you let the guilt of inhaling four bars-worth of chocolate all in one sitting consume you, let us ease your thoughts. Chocolate is good for you!
What chocolate is healthy?
Don't get ahead of yourself in the candy aisle. Not all chocolate is created equal. Far from it. The rule of thumb you want to go off here is the darker, the better. Here is the low-down on the various benefits you can glean from chocolate. You'll be happy to indulge after you read these!
Antioxidants
One of dark chocolate's biggest bragging rights is its high antioxidant count. Antioxidants help to fight and neutralize free radical damage and other unbalanced compounds in the body created by cellular processes in the body including those that fight environmental toxins.
The two groups of antioxidants contained in chocolate are flavonoids and polyphenols, and dark chocolate boasts a higher amount of flavonoids and polyphenols than even tea or wine!
Cancer Prevention
Would you eat dark chocolate if you knew that it could help you ward off cancer? If the answer is yes, get ready to stock up! As it turns out, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research, there is research emerging that suggests there may be some benefits chocolate gives in the fight against cancer:
"Given chocolate’s rich supply of flavonoids, researchers have also investigated whether it may play a role in cancer prevention. The studies in cancer prevention are still emerging. A recent review of studies on the cancer protective properties of cocoa concluded that the evidence is limited but suggestive."Improved Cognitive Function
Ever been in the middle of an important project and then, suddenly, you hit a mental wall? Next time you're suffering from brain fog, you might think of nibbling on a bit of chocolate. A 2017 review in Frontiers in Nutrition says that short-term and long-term consumption can be beneficial.
The research found that two hours after dark chocolate consumption (with high flavanol content), young adults expressed improved reaction time and memory compared to young adults that had consumed white chocolate (low flavanol content). It was also found that in adults ages 50 to 69, those taking a cocoa supplement with high flavanol content for the period of three months showed improved memory performance than subjects taking a low flavanol cocoa supplement.
If we're being completely honest, you don't really need a healthy reason to indulge in this delicious delicacy. Chocolate is brilliant no matter what you're consuming it for! Of course, these are only scratching the surface of the health benefits of chocolate. There are many reasons eating the dark treat is a good idea, what are yours?
