1. It provides cardiac protection
Dark chocolate lowers blood pressure, which lowers risks of heart attacks and strokes. It supports vascular health by helping to relax blood vessels with its nitric oxide content. Regular dark chocolate intake has shown a 37 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease, and a 29 percent reduction in stroke.
A few years ago, researchers discovered that small daily amounts of dark chocolate can help cut your risk of heart attack. Like aspirin – but without the side effects, chocolate has a biochemical effect due to healthy fats and flavonols that reduce the clumping of platelets. Platelet clumping can be fatal if a clot forms and blocks a blood vessel, potentially causing a heart attack or a stroke.
A 2005 study in the Journal of Hypertension found that volunteers with high blood pressure that were given 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate daily for 15 days showed a drop in blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic, as well as a drop in LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol).
2. It offers stroke protection
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to your brain becomes blocked or reduced by a blood clot. This deprives your brain of necessary oxygen and nutrients, causing your brain cells to begin to die within minutes. Recently, it was discovered that a flavonoid in dark chocolate, called epicatechin (which are also found in tea, red wine, and certain fruits and vegetables), can help protect your brain before and after a brain stroke. It increases cellular signals that shield nerve cells from damage.
3. It is one of the richest sources of free radical-fighting antioxidants
It contains a large amount of the same family of flavonoids as red wine and green tea: flavanols which support healthy brain function and positive mental outlook. Raw cocoa powder contains 10,000 milligrams (10 grams) of flavanol antioxidants per 100 grams – or an amazing 10% antioxidant concentration level! When it comes to supplying your body with effective antioxidants, no other natural food can even come close. It has almost double the amount of antioxidants than a glass of red wine, more than double than green tea, and four to five times more than black tea.
The antioxidants found in cacao beans are highly stable and easily available to the human metabolism. Of all known foods, cacao is also the only food which does not lose its Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) over significant periods of time.
4. It can help reduce risk of assorted cancers
Cocoa polyphenols from dark chocolate reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. This was determined by the Science and Technology Institute of Food and Nutrition in Spain, in an article published in Molecular Nutrition. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and keep them from damaging the DNA and mitochondria of the body’s cells. It can be the cause of many degenerative diseases, cancer tumors, heart disease, and premature aging. Cells with damaged DNA cannot reproduce healthy new cells, but will reproduce damaged or malignant cells and increase the chances of cancer.
5. Chocolate contains healthy fats
The fat in chocolate not raise cholesterol. It contains abundant oleic acid, the type of fatty acid found in olive oil, which helps prevent heart disease and promote antioxidant activity. More than half is composed of stearic acid that the liver converts into healthy oleic acid. This raises good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) and saturated fat.
6. It is packed with minerals
4 ounces of dark chocolate contains the following amounts: Iron 20%; Magnesium 33%; Potassium 27%; Phosphorus 30%; Copper 25%; and Calcium 13% and zinc.
7. It enhances glucose metabolism and helps diabetics
Dark chocolate (70% plus) candy bars inhibit blood sugar issues to help prevent diabetes and obesity. In 2008, researchers found that raw cocoa powder could help prevent cardiovascular diseases for people with diabetes. Diabetic patients were given a daily raw cocoa drink for one month. This brought their blood vessel function from severely impaired to normal. This improvement was as large as has been observed with exercise and many common diabetic medications. From now on, drink your cocoa medicine if you need help for your diabetes.
8. It improves brain function
Cocoa also contains the neurotransmitters dopamine and anandamide and MAO Inhibitors – which make this heart-healthy food a healthy food for the brain too. Another chemical, Phenylethylamine (PEA) helps promote mental alertness and the ability to concentrate. This chemical can help students cramming for exams and seniors who want to retain the mental capacity of a younger person and delay the onset of dementia.
It also shows small amounts of caffeine – less than a cup of decaffeinated coffee. Caffeine and theobromine give you energy. Chocolate increases you attention span and activity. Nottingham University professor Ian MacDonald used MRI analysis to prove improved brain activity for people who had just consumed cocoa drinks.
9. Chocolate helps reduce stress
As I recommend in my Cholesterol book, indulge with a square (not a tablet) of dark chocolate and a glass of red wine every night. A new clinical trial has proven that eating good quality dark chocolate is a better cure for emotional stress than taking antidepressants. The researchers have found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate (70% cocoa liquor content and above) a day for two weeks (why stop there?) reduced levels of stress hormones.
10. It helps improve your mood
Cocoa contains the amino acid Tryptophan which makes the neurotransmitter known as serotonin, which promotes positive feelings and helps keep us from feeling depressed. Studies have shown that dark chocolate increases endorphin production, a known natural anti-depressant. Their combination makes you feel good and help relieve depression.
11. Chocolate can help your man’s sexual potency
Nitric oxide or NO is a critical component in healthy blood flow and blood pressure control. Vascular diseases, including Erectile Dysfunction (ED) which is common in men over age 40, are connected to the lack of diet intake of nitric oxide (NO). It appears that flavanols help process and increase the availability of NO in our arteries. NO not only can be found in chocolate, but also in other foods such as: beets, collard greens, nuts, spinach, kiwi fruit, seafood, lean meats, broccoli, red chili peppers, and lettuce. Between you and I, wouldn’t prefer to get yours from chocolate? I know I would. Keeping that in mind, good quality chocolate can potentially help your man enjoy a more active sex life without having to rely on expensive drugs like Viagra™ or Celebrex™ or other herbal concoctions. Good thing I have been taking my chocolate medicine daily for years.
12. It eases PMS issues
Dark Chocolate works wonders! It is packed with mood-enhancing magnesium and mood boosting omega 3 fatty acids. Good information for husbands and boyfriends out there. If you want to soften your sweetie, give her dark chocolate to awake her amorous tendencies. On the other hand, do not give her sugar or you will get the I have a headache excuse tonight.
13. It is good for your skin
Cocoa has a high content of the beauty mineral, sulfur. Sulfur helps build strong nails and hair, promotes healthy and beautiful skin, helps detoxify the liver, and supports healthy functioning of the pancreas. Unlike chocolate candy, it does not give you acne. Chocolate bars and candies are full of sugar and milk. Sugar is the evil in chocolate, dark chocolate has very little sugar in it.
14. Chocolate is friendly to your teeth
Cocoa contains a small amount of fluoride and the cocoa butter forms a coating on your teeth that protects against bacteria.
There you have it. These are some of the reasons to enjoy organic raw cocoa or dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao. There are brands with 85% to 90% as well – a little too bitter for my taste. These aren’t your kid’s chocolates candies with lots of sugar or milk. They are semi-sweet at best.
Actually, I would suggest you start teaching your kids right by offering them a square of dark chocolate and educate them in its many health benefits.
You may be interested in my other chocolate-specific posts. Find them all on this page.