Despite being a favorite treat through the generations, chocolate sometimes has a bad reputation. Now people are giving the health benefits of chocolate a second thought, particularly dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is not only healthy but also may be able to lower your chances of some diseases and cancers, because it is rich in antioxidants.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are powerful fighters against free radicals, which injure your body's cells and DNA. Free radicals can lead to health problems such as bad cholesterol, heart disease or some cancers. To live healthfully, you need sources of antioxidants daily.
Dark Chocolate and Flavonoids
Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, but there's another food that can offer you a generous supply of antioxidants. According to the MD Anderson Center, dark chocolate may help prevent cancer because of its flavonoids. These are chemicals that function as antioxidants. Cocoa beans, which dark chocolate is made from, are naturally rich in these antioxidants.
Dark Chocolate Vs. Fruit
According to MayoClinic.com, dark chocolate has as much or more antioxidants than most fruits and vegetables. In 2011, a study in the "Chemistry Central Journal" reported dark chocolate's rank in the world of food and antioxidants. Researchers at the Hershey Center for Health and Nutrition concluded that both dark chocolate and cocoa powder possess as much or more antioxidants than juice from fruits and fruit powders.
Dark Chocolate Over Milk Chocolate
The Alzheimer's Association says that by consuming more foods with antioxidants, you protect your body and brain from harmful free radicals, which reduces your chances of having Alzheimer's disease and other serious illnesses. To get the full effect, choose pure dark chocolate over milk chocolate, because milk chocolate contains added sugars, saturated fat and typically less antioxidants, which are diminished when the milk chocolate is processed.
References
- Cleveland Clinic: Heart-Health Benefits of Chocolate Unveiled
- MD Anderson Center: Valentine's Sweetest Treat
- MayoClinic.com: Food Sources the Best Choice for Antioxidants
- "Chemistry Central Journal"; Cacao Seeds Are a "Super Fruit": A Comparative Analysis of Various Fruit Powders and Products; Stephen J. Crozier; February 2011
- Alzheimer's Association: Adopt a Brain-Healthy Diet
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