Rich in flavanols, fiber, minerals and antioxidants, dark chocolate is beneficial for health and mood.
- Dark chocolate is rich in flavanols, fiber, minerals and antioxidants.
- The polyphenolics it contains also make it beneficial for mood.
- However, you should not overuse this food which remains sweet and high in calories.
For dessert or as a snack, dark chocolate is a sweet treat that is sometimes hard to resist. But good news, it is good for your health! Dietitian Devon Peart takes stock of the benefits of this food in an article in the Cleveland Clinic.
Dark chocolate, rich in flavanols, fiber and minerals
The first advantage of dark chocolate is that it is rich in flavanols. This is a type of flavonoids, substances present in plants, fruits, vegetables, tea but also dark chocolate!
Eating foods rich in flavanols helps reduce high blood pressure. According to Vidal, those contained in cocoa improve the elasticity of blood vessels and blood circulation. “Better blood circulation contributes to better protection against heart diseaseexplains Devon Peart. It is also good for [les capacités cognitives]because blood flow to the brain is important.”
Second benefit of dark chocolate: it is rich in fiber. “In a small amount of dark chocolate (a little over 28 grams), there are about four grams of fiber“, emphasizes Devon Peart. 4 grams of fiber that could help you achieve the 30 to 45 that you need to eat every day for good intestinal transit, depending on the Vidal.
Dark chocolate is also an important source of mineralsin particular magnesium (which reduces stress, anxiety and fatigue), iron (necessary for the transport and use of oxygen by red blood cells), zinc (involved in many cellular functions), etc.
Eating dark chocolate improves mood
Fourth benefit: the antioxidants contained in dark chocolate. As recalled the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), “the cocoa bean contains 8% antioxidants, but the more cocoa the chocolate contains, the lower the amount of antioxidants. We must therefore favor dark chocolates, with a high cocoa content.” Antioxidants protect cells from oxidative stresswhich corresponds to an attack on them by free radicals, molecules which can damage them.
Finally, if you feel good when eating chocolate, it’s not just because you’re giving yourself a little treat! This is mainly because this food contains polyphenolics, “antioxidants that reduce the stress hormone cortisol, details Devon Peart. Eating dark chocolate is therefore beneficial for your mood.”
In study published in 2022, Researchers showed that participants who ate 85% dark chocolate every day were in better moods overall, compared to those who ate chocolate with less cocoa, or no chocolate at all. However, like all foods, it must be consumed in moderation because it remains sweet and high in calories.
