1. Recent studies have shown a reduction in the risk of getting cardiovascular disease in those who regularly ate dark chocolate. In those susceptible to Alzheimer's, diabetes and stroke a 50% reduction in risk was reported.
2. Thickening of the blood can lead to clots which, in turn, can lead to stroke. However, it seems that the bacteria in your gut can break down dark chocolate into ant-inflammatory compounds which thin the blood lessening the chances of stroke.
3. 20 different studies have shown that eating dark chocolate everyday decreased participant's blood pressure by 2 to 3 points. It seems to encourage the arterial lining to produce Nitric Oxide which relaxes the arteries and reduces the pressure of the blood.
4. A very good improvement in blood flow was observed even in young, healthy men who were given a small square of 70% dark chocolate every day for a month. The flow increase ranged from 14% to 23%.
5. Eating dark chocolate can increase the HDL or good cholesterol in your blood, thus lowering any bad cholesterol (LDL).
6. The benefits of eating dark chocolate seem endless! Diabetics were shown in one recent study to obtain improved insulin sensitivity, further, it showed the same insulin sensitivity improvement in non-diabetics too.
7. A substance in dark chocolate called Theobromine could even help protect your teeth by hardening your tooth enamel.
8. Increased protection from sun damage to your skin could also be experienced if you regularly ate dark chocolate.
9. Again, the flavonols in 70% dark chocolate have been shown to improve blood flow - this time to the brain. Another substance, phenylethylamine, helps release 'feel good' hormones in the brain helping you feel relaxed and happy.
Advice On Choosing Chocolate
Do Buy clearly labelled 70% or higher dark chocolate. This was the strength used in the above studies. If you don't mind the taste, 80% or even 90% is even better. Don't buy the milky, sweet varieties. This is because the flavonols, which are responsible for the above benefits, have been stripped out of the milky, sweet chocolate to make way for the sweeter taste.
2. Thickening of the blood can lead to clots which, in turn, can lead to stroke. However, it seems that the bacteria in your gut can break down dark chocolate into ant-inflammatory compounds which thin the blood lessening the chances of stroke.
3. 20 different studies have shown that eating dark chocolate everyday decreased participant's blood pressure by 2 to 3 points. It seems to encourage the arterial lining to produce Nitric Oxide which relaxes the arteries and reduces the pressure of the blood.
4. A very good improvement in blood flow was observed even in young, healthy men who were given a small square of 70% dark chocolate every day for a month. The flow increase ranged from 14% to 23%.
5. Eating dark chocolate can increase the HDL or good cholesterol in your blood, thus lowering any bad cholesterol (LDL).
6. The benefits of eating dark chocolate seem endless! Diabetics were shown in one recent study to obtain improved insulin sensitivity, further, it showed the same insulin sensitivity improvement in non-diabetics too.
7. A substance in dark chocolate called Theobromine could even help protect your teeth by hardening your tooth enamel.
8. Increased protection from sun damage to your skin could also be experienced if you regularly ate dark chocolate.
9. Again, the flavonols in 70% dark chocolate have been shown to improve blood flow - this time to the brain. Another substance, phenylethylamine, helps release 'feel good' hormones in the brain helping you feel relaxed and happy.
Advice On Choosing Chocolate
Do Buy clearly labelled 70% or higher dark chocolate. This was the strength used in the above studies. If you don't mind the taste, 80% or even 90% is even better. Don't buy the milky, sweet varieties. This is because the flavonols, which are responsible for the above benefits, have been stripped out of the milky, sweet chocolate to make way for the sweeter taste.
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Read more about amazing dark chocolate health benefits as well as other superfoods at Selfgrowth.
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