Chocolate is valued for a variety of reasons. However, the preferred chocolate is the dark type, which has the highest cocoa concentration, high antioxidant content, and low-fat content.
Mood
Eating a small bar of chocolate and sticking to a healthy diet has the potential to improve mood. It’s the combination of the texture, smell, and taste of chocolate that helps stimulate the brain and leaves you feeling good. In addition, chocolate is rich in the essential amino acid tryptophan, which can help increase the amount of serotonin in the system. It is a natural type of antidepressant.
Kind to the heart
The main reason for the benefit for the heart is the flavonoid content. This chemical is helpful in promoting the production of nitric oxide, which relaxes and dilates blood vessels.
Help arteries
Another advantage of the flavonoid content is the ability to stop the oxidation of bad cholesterol (LDL). Over time, this can lead to a buildup of plaque on the artery wall, often referred to as an occlusive disease. Also, the flavonoid content may include stearic acid, a unique type of saturated fat that can support good cholesterol (HDL).
Silent cough
The theobromine content in it can affect the vagus nerve and help suppress coughing episodes. The vagus nerve is responsible for carrying messages between the brain and the central nervous system.
Brain Health
In addition, the same chemical compound can be found in green tea.
All in all, to get the most out of the chocolate you eat, you want to look for dark chocolate that has a high concentration of cocoa. Ideally, you want chocolate with 70 percent cocoa to get the most benefit. A high cocoa content also means a higher content of flavonoids beneficial for all-around health.
