Follow these tips to make sure your dark chocolate is high-quality, rich in antioxidants and of course, delicious. Plus, I’ve also added some pro tips to help you buy only the premium quality dark chocolate that satisfies your sweet tooth. Unfortunately, it’s true to some extent, but when it comes to dark chocolate, moderate consumption may help you lower your blood sugar level. No, when it comes to “health food”, the only thing that qualifies is proper dark chocolate.
The latest studies on dark chocolate confirm that moderate consumption of dark chocolate every day has been linked to slashing the risk of stroke. Unfortunately, it’s very high in sugar, which can increase your risk of high blood sugar levels and diabetes. According to a study by The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, cocoa flavanols appear to be helping certain types of cells that promote the secretion of insulin for regulating the blood sugar level.
However, dark chocolate generally contains less sugar and fat than other types of chocolate, making it a healthier option. Value is always important, but the range for healthy dark chocolate is relatively narrow. One cup of homemade hot chocolate is even higher in potassium, containing 492 mg, which is around 14% of your daily recommended need for this mineral. But those with kidney disease or potassium sensitivity often have to take in less potassium, which might make chocolate a problematic food for them.
It also has an abundance of phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc. A study recently carried out on Norfolk residents suggests that higher chocolate consumption could reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events, and there were no statistically significant evidence to avoid chocolate intake who are concerned about cardiovascular risks. Another study carried out by ARYA Atheroscler report that participants who ate dark chocolate for eight weeks noticed a significant difference in fasting blood sugar and A1C levels while the participants who ate white chocolate had heeded no benefits at all.
Most healthy individuals don’t have to worry about taking in too much of this mineral from chocolate, as their kidneys are perfectly capable of flushing out any excess potassium. The findings of a 2017 review showed that the beneficial effects of dark chocolate on blood pressure might be more significant in older people and those with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, as opposed to younger, healthy individuals. However, it’s worth mentioning that the antioxidants in the dark chocolate can hold back the oxidative stress and “disarm” the free radicals found by using ORAC and four other methods.
Oxidative stress plays a role in the natural aging process and may increase the risk of developing several diseases, reports Medical News Today. The risk of hypertension or high blood pressure, is associated with lack of exercise and weight gain as well. A sleepless night can lead to a lack of concentration, motivation, irritability, and more. Have you ever felt more relaxed after eating a piece of dark chocolate?
Dark chocolate is a luxurious treat that’s rich in flavor and dark in color - a bittersweet choice for those who always crave for exotic and full-bodied flavors. Chocolate is a high-potassium food, but some varieties might be suitable for people following a low-potassium diet. As a result, it’s a safe food to have on a low-potassium diet. But if you buy the finest quality dark chocolate with relatively high cocoa content, then it’s actually very nutritious.
• Consuming 15 days of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate resulted in a decrease in total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol of 6.5 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively. In contrast, dark chocolate usually ranges from 70% to 100% cocoa based and usually the sugar can vary from 2g to 4g for every 100g of chocolate. Is dark chocolate high in potassium? So, how much dark chocolate should I eat? Dark Chocolate Beneficial to Diabetics Surprisingly, Italian researchers discovered that health benefits of dark chocolate include significantly improved markers of insulin sensitivity, decreasing fasting insulin and glucose levels, as well as insulin and glucose responses to the glucose tolerance test.
Potential Benefits According to a study that appeared in the January, 2015 issue of ARYA Atherosclerosis, high-cocoa polyphenol-rich chocolate lowers blood pressure and insulin resistance in patients with diabetes and high blood pressure. However, a 2010 study found no difference in people with high blood pressure. However, it’s important to know that the results of the study don’t conclusively link chocolate ingestion with the reduced risk of stroke. Several studies on the cocoa product, especially dark chocolate suggest that they can be highly beneficial for your heart and appear to be extremely protective for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
It’s important to know that those were observational studies, so can’t prove if it was the dark chocolate that helped to reduce the risk. How much dark chocolate should you eat a day? In the first study, the healthy participants were asked to eat a 48-gram of dark chocolate (with 70% cacao and 30% organic cane sugar). When choosing dark chocolate, ensure it has high cocoa content and pick between natural and flavored options based on your preference.
Numerous studies suggest that high cocoa content can have a beneficial effect on the brain, mood, and memory. Chocolate cake: replace the regular cocoa powder with a sugar-free variant. Sugar-free chocolate sweetened with sorbitol or fructose inplace of sugar is often found in Europe. Dark chocolate, despite its sugar content, does not increase cholesterol levels. To make dark chocolate, you must dry the cocoa beans and then process them to produce the resulting hardened bars.