Benefits of Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the most popular foods ever known, second only to vanilla. For centuries, it has been appreciated for its rich, smooth and delicious flavor. Recently, chocolate has been studied for its potential health benefits, with intriguing results. Different types of chocolate range in their benefits. Dark chocolate is the most healthful, as it has more cocoa solids, which contain the beneficial constituents that chocolate provides.

Protection from Cell Damage

Chocolate has a significant amount of flavonoids. Flavonoids assist in the repair and protection of plants as they grow. When eaten in sufficient quantities, these flavonoids can provide benefits to the human body as well. They act as antioxidants, which can help to reduce the risk of free radicals, or chemicals within the body that can cause cell damage. Eating chocolate can help increase the amount of available flavonoids.

Cardiovascular Health

Flavonoids in chocolate can also help improve overall cardiovascular health. They reduce the activation of platelets, which can diminish the risk of clots forming in the bloodstream. Flavonoids can also relax blood vessels that may assist in relieving high blood pressure. LDL cholesterol levels may also decrease with the consumption of flavonoids.

Brain Health

Chocolate contains chemicals that can improve mood and provide a pick-me-up effect. These include amounts of both caffeine and theobromine, which can act as a stimulant on both the body and mind. A recent study at Wheeling Jesuit University, in West Virginia, suggests that chocolate may improve brain function. Improvements in solving problems, attention span and reaction time were noted after participants in the study ate chocolate.

Beneficial Fats

Although chocolate does have a certain amount of fat in the form of cocoa butter, the constituents of this fat do have benefits. Although one third of the fat in cocoa butter is made up of palmitic acid, which can contribute to increased cholesterol levels when consumed in large quantities, nearly half of the fat in chocolate is comprised of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that can also be found in olive oil. Oleic acid is considered heart-healthy, helping to reduce bad and increase good cholesterol.