Dark chocolate has a series of factors that make it a pure food, one of the most virtuous products available in shops. But not everybody knows what are the great benefits of this sort of chocolate, which can be enjoyed at breakfast, as a dessert at lunch or even at dinner. Here we are going to discover what are the 5 facts about this ingredient that are usually not taken into account.
It is becoming increasingly clear to nutritionists and dieticians that this kind of chocolate must appear in our daily diet, no matters in what form we eat it.
If it is in a bar, or by a shake that has the same properties. The nutritional benefits of this essential food have been demonstrated scientifically.
And the fact is that our body will be benefited in three fundamental aspects that concern our organism:
- The brain
- The heart
- And the mood
In short, dark chocolate has an influence on the mental level, boosting the connections among neurons, improving the health of your heart and motivating you.
Cardioprotective effects on the heart
Dark chocolate, for the unaware, is obtained directly by extracting two products from cocoa beans: the paste and the butter.
No milk or sugar is added, and we have to remember that for this black chocolate to provide a high nutritional value, it must be more than 70%.
The less sugar it has, the less possibility of obesity or other types of diseases such as diabetes or tooth decay. But what about its effects on the cardiovascular system?
The “Universidad Complutense de Madrid” has detected the cardioprotective effects of dark chocolate thanks to its flavonoids, which have an effect on cholesterol and blood pressure.
Including this type of chocolate in our daily life has very positive effects on our diet, especially in what has to do with our heart.
Because blood circulation is another of the areas of action that holds the dark chocolate, an important ally to lower our blood pressure.
The hidden treasures of dark chocolate
The main truths that dark chocolate holds for our organism, beyond directly affecting our blood, are the following:
- It provides a probiotic effect, with the stimulation of the good bacteria in the intestine.
- It helps the intestinal transit thanks to its fiber, so it retains water and contributes to digestion.
- It further contributes to the care of the kidneys, because it helps to stop the uric acid crystallization and prevents kidney stones.
- Dark chocolate lowers the risk of suffering cognitive impairment.
- It improves memory, a totally telling fact about its action at a mental level.
The Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN) reveals that the nutritional value per 100 grams of dark chocolate is 532 kilocalories.