4 reasons to eat chocolate everyday
It may surprise you to know that the average New Zealander consumes a whopping 30 kilos of chocolate in a year. However, the shocking truth is that most of this is not actually “real” chocolate. For example, New Zealand’s most popular dairy milk chocolate has only 26 per 100 grams of cocoa and 57 grams of sugar. However, by simply switching to a darker, more natural blend, we could unearth a world of good.
Nutritionally, any significant health benefits that derive from chocolate require a minimum of 70 per cent cocoa compound solids.
If you do opt for dark, high-cocoa concentrated chocolate, then you are in for a range of delicious well-being reimbursements.
Simon Sweetingham is a New Zealand travel blogger who is passionate about health, wellbeing and longevity. Here, he explains four reasons why you should eat chocolate every day.
1. Dark chocolate is good for your heart
Studies show that eating a small amount of dark chocolate daily can help lower your blood pressure. Dark chocolate improves blood flow and may help prevent the formation of blood clots. Eating dark chocolate may also prevent arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
2. Dark chocolate is good for your brain
Dark chocolate increases blood flow to the brain as well as to the heart, so it can help improve cognitive function. Dark chocolate also helps reduce your risk of stroke. Dark chocolate also contains several chemical compounds that have a positive effect on your mood and cognitive health. Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine (PEA), the same chemical your brain creates when you feel like you're falling in love. PEA encourages your brain to release endorphins, so eating dark chocolate will make you feel happier.
3. Dark chocolate helps control blood sugar
Dark chocolate helps keep your blood vessels healthy and your circulation unimpaired to protect against type 2 diabetes. The flavonoids in dark chocolate also help reduce insulin resistance by helping your cells to function normally and regain the ability to use your body's insulin efficiently. Dark chocolate also has a low glycaemic index, meaning it won't cause huge spikes in blood sugar levels.
4. Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals
Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants that help free your body of free radicals, which cause oxidative damage to cells. Free radicals are implicated in the aging process antioxidant flavonols. Dark chocolate contains a number of vitamins and minerals that can support your health. The copper and potassium in dark chocolate help prevent against stroke and cardiovascular ailments. The iron in chocolate protects against iron deficiency anaemia, and the magnesium in chocolate helps prevent type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Do you find that chocolate has a positive effect on your mood? Let us know in the comments below.
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