You got an excuse to feast on dark chocolates
Dark chocolate is rich in essential nutrients that our bodies need which is the reason you should eat more of it.
It’s less in preservatives, calories and sugars and has higher contents in cocoa. It’s the high contents of cocoa that help in improving your overall health.
Wondering how chocolate can help you? Check out these amazing health benefits of eating dark chocolate:
1. Cognitive function
Finding it hard to coordinate your mind due to nervousness? A dark chocolate bar will do you good. According to a study by the University of Nottingham, dark chocolate gives your brain a short-term boost and keeps you alert for 2-3 hours. Flavanols are major components in dark chocolates and they help the blood vessels dilate. This ensures that blood and Oxygen reach to the key parts of the brains keeping you alert.
2. Sharp eyesight
You might not have seen this coming. Just like carrots, dark chocolate helps in improving your eyesight and letting you detect motion and read low contrast letters with much ease. This results from increased blood flow to the brain and the retina.
3. Lowers blood pressure
Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants which help in relaxing the arteries. The blood thus flows smoothly without pressure. This also reduces the risk of getting heart diseases which mostly rise from high blood pressure.
4. Promotes weight loss
Let’s be clear here. It’s not all chocolates that will help in lowering your BMI. Dark chocolate in particular makes you feel fuller compared to the lighter chocolates. You are therefore less likely to eat and snack more.
5. Protects your skin
Although you may still need to use your sunscreen, dark chocolate can also help protect your skin from the harsh UV rays. Studies have shown that regular consumption of dark chocolate strengthens the skin's ability to protect itself from the sun.
6. Lowers cholesterol
When bad cholesterol accumulates in the body, it hardens the blood vessels and they gradually narrow increasing the chances of blood clots. Dark chocolate helps reduce bad cholesterol and raises the levels of good cholesterol.