Benifits Of Dark Chocolate :

There have been many studies linking cocoa and dark chocolate with health benefits. The darker chocolate with the most concentrated cocoa will of course be the most beneficial for the health.

Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries). Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body.

Heart Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate:

Dark chocolate is good for the heart. A small bar of it everyday can help to keep the heart and cardiovascular system running well. Two heart health benefits of dark chocolate are:

Lower Blood Pressure: Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.

Lower Cholesterol: Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.

Other Benefits of Dark Chocolate:

Chocolate also holds benefits apart from protecting heart:

It tastes good ,

It stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure,

It contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant,

It contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants