Health Facts About Organic Dark Chocolate

Having a piece of organic dark chocolate may not only give you a mental pick me up, but a physical one, as well. Research suggests that ingredients in organic dark chocolate can affect cardiovascular health and cognitive function, as well as act as potent antioxidants. However, moderation is the key, as these benefits are seen when chocolate is consumed in small amounts as part of a healthy, well-balanced diet.

Cardiovascular Disease

Organic dark chocolate can be helpful in the control of certain forms of cardiovascular disease, as well as in prevention. According to a 2007 study published in "The Journal of the American Medical Association" and authored by physicians at the University of Cologne in Germany, inclusion of small amounts of polyphenol-rich chocolate as part of a usual diet efficiently reduces blood pressure. These results are consistent with those of an earlier study, published in 2006 in the "Archives of Internal Medicine" by Wageningen University researchers in The Netherlands, which concludes that in a cohort of elderly men, cocoa intake is associated with lower blood pressure and reduced rates of mortality, not only from cardiovascular causes, but all causes. A study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center published in 2010 in the American Heart Association's journal "Circulation" concludes that moderate habitual chocolate intake is associated with a lower rate of heart failure hospitalization or death.

Brain Function

Dark chocolate can also have positive effects on brain function. According to a study published in 2009 by University of Oslo researchers in "The Journal of Nutrition," intake of flavonoid-rich wine, tea and chocolate by elderly men and women is associated with better cognitive test performance. Study authors go on to say that intake of flavonol-rich cocoa products, such as organic dark chocolate, is associated with increased blood flow to cerebral gray matter and might be beneficial in conditions with reduced cerebral blood flow, such as dementia and stroke.

Stress

Another health benefit associated with moderate intake of dark chocolate is the relief of emotional stress. A study from the Nestle Research Center published in 2009 by the "Journal of Proteome Research" found that eating 1.4 ozs. of dark chocolate daily reduces stress hormones and other stress-related biochemical changes in highly stressed adults.

Food Cravings

Science Daily reports that dark chocolate has been shown to be more filling than milk chocolate and reduces food cravings for sweet, salty and fatty foods. The website points to a study done by the University of Copenhagen that compared the effects of both types of chocolate on appetite and calorie intake, concluding that subjects consume 15 percent fewer calories when given dark chocolate two and a half hours before a meal.

Considerations

The American Heart Association advises that chocolate should not be considered a miracle food, and will not make you healthier by itself. It recommends moderation, stating that you should limit chocolate intake to small amounts as part of a healthy, well-balanced diet.