It also has no dairy ingredients, which is not common among the lower cocoa content chocolates. But is preferred by many chocolate lovers who would like to have less bitter dark chocolates. Excess free radicals attack the body cells and this may lead to diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease. Choosing organic chocolate may also reduce your exposure to any artificial chemicals, or pesticides sprayed on the coffee beans.
In case you want flavored dark chocolate, choose one that is organic to avoid artificial flavors that are linked to health risks. Although dark chocolate is high in added sugar, which is said to have health risks such as diabetes, obesity, and more, It turns out that the health benefits of the antioxidants in dark chocolate overwhelmingly outweigh the downsides of added sugar at a moderate consumption. Eating dark chocolate before or after meals triggers hormones that signal to the brain you’re full.
Studies show that eating dark chocolate can significantly protect the skin from UV light. Dark chocolate contains fat in the form of cocoa butter, which mainly consists of unhealthful saturated fats. July 3, 2007 - The health benefits of dark chocolate may include lowering high blood pressure, German researchers report. Antioxidants reduce free radicals, or compounds from toxic substances in your body that damage cells and may lead to cancer and other diseases.
Just be sure to enjoy it in moderation - too much caffeine can lead to unwanted side effects like jitters and insomnia. The article published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology showed that chocolate behaves like a prebiotic, a type of fiber that encourages the growth of good bacteria in the gut. Research shows that dark chocolate has a greater antioxidant effect than many antioxidant fruits like blueberries and acai berries.
Research shows that dark chocolate has a variety of health benefits among others fighting cancer, lowering the risk of heart disease, and more. Although trans-fats increase the shelf life of most dark chocolate brands, the intake of Trans fats is a risk factor for heart disease according to research. The result is a lower risk of oxidative stress and free radical damage-both of which contribute to aging, cancer, and disease.
Lower amounts of sugar allow for more antioxidants and fiber to include in the chocolate bar. At most, it is well tolerated in diabetes, but only in small amounts. It’s frequently found in these popular items as well. Not only does it taste delicious and sweet, but it’s also loaded with nutrients that have great health benefits. A registered nurse with more than 25 years of experience in oncology, labor/delivery, neonatal intensive care, infertility and ophthalmology, Sharon Perkins has also coauthored and edited numerous health books for the Wiley "Dummies" series.
Learn more about dark chocolate and weight loss from our article here. According to the study published in the journal Antioxidants & Redox Signalling, dark chocolate is high in cocoa content which is full of antioxidants. When you’re choosing dark chocolate, look for bars that have a cocoa content of 70% or higher, and should be the first on the ingredient list.
The company distributes organic gourmet coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, avocados, cocoa, and chocolate bars from farmer cooperatives in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. They are all passionate about their products and create their chocolate bars from scratch using only three main ingredients: cacao beans, sugar and cocoa butter. So taking a hot drink with a few teaspoons of pure cocoa is far better than using a commercially available powder with added ingredients.
This company produces chocolate that is organic, Gluten-Free & Non-GMO, with no added sugar and free of emulsifiers. Raw Halo is another smaller company that is focusing on its premium status, coming from the fact that it uses ethically-sourced plant-based ingredients for its chocolate, sweetened with coconut sugar, and is ethically wrapped. While sugar is an important component of dark chocolate, some brands go overboard.
This is thought to be due to the powerful effect of the antioxidants present in dark chocolate. This is due to the antioxidant property of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is normally flavored with spices for example vanilla. Manganese for example plays a big role in the production of collagen, a protein that keeps the skin young and healthy. Also, the nutrients in dark chocolate are beneficial to the skin.
According to a study published in the Journal of Community and Hospital Internal Medicine, it was established that flavonoids in dark chocolate can reduce oxidative stress which is the number one cause of insulin resistance. Studies have shown that Dutching significantly reduces the number of antioxidants in chocolate. Avoid dutch chocolate. Dutching is a chocolate processing method that involves treatment with alkali, otherwise known as alkalization. All these brands are different based on the ingredients used and processing methods.