Health benefits of chocolate is grate.
- The next time you eat a piece of chocolate, you may not have to feel so guilty about it.
- Despite its bad reputation for causing weight gain,
- a number of health benefits may be associated with this delicious treat.
Eating chocolate may have the following benefits:
lowering cholesterol levels
- One study, published in The Journal of Nutrition, suggests that chocolate consumption might help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, also known as “bad cholesterol.”
- The researchers set out to investigate whether chocolate bars containing plant sterols (PS) and cocoa flavanols (CF) have any effect on cholesterol levels.
reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems
- Research published in The BMJ, suggests that consuming chocolate could help lower the risk of developing heart disease by one-third.
- Based on their observations, the authors concluded that higher levels of chocolate consumption could be linked to a lower risk of cardiometabolic disorders
Athletic performance
Chocolate may have health benefits, but it can have some negative effects, too.
- Weight gain: Some studies suggest that chocolate consumption is linked to lower body mass index (BMI) and central body fat.
- However, chocolate can have a high calorie count due to its sugar and fat content.
- Anyone who is trying to slim down or maintain their weight should limit their chocolate consumption and check the label of their favorite product.
Sugar content:
The high sugar content of most chocolate can also be a cause of tooth decay.
How to choose the healthiest chocolate
- To get more bang in your bar, reach for dark chocolate with a cocoa percentage of 70% or higher. (More cocoa equals more flavonoids.)
- Chocolate, cocoa, or cacao should appear first on the ingredient list, which means there’s the most of it by weight.
- If sugar is first on the list or you see words you can’t pronounce, steer clear, or you’ll likely be pumping yourself full of empty calories and fillers
