It’s Valentine’s Day! Whether you celebrate with a significant other, your girlfriends, or your furry companions, a likely addition is chocolate. Cacao has taken off recently and is now considered one of the top superfoods! However, it does come with a warning that you can find at the bottom of this article….please read.
It comes in many forms, from milk, white, and dark chocolate to boxes full of countless varieties of truffles. While not every option is guilt-free, today and every day, you can feel good about consuming some organic dark chocolate such as raw cacao, cacao powder, and cacao nibs. There is so much science behind the benefits of dark chocolate that you can not only feel guilt-free but proud of your indulgence.
My Top 3 Favorite Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
1. Chocolate Can Help You Lose Weight
Studies have found a correlation between how frequently we consume chocolate and lower body mass index. This means that you are more likely to have a slim waist if you consume chocolate than if you don’t.
Let me explain some of the mechanisms at work here. When you consume raw cacao, it helps to improve your muscular performance, capillary function, and mitochondrial biogenesis. You have likely never heard of mitochondrial biogenesis, but this benefit of cacao consumption is linked to increased thermogenesis and energy expenditure. What this means is that delicious raw cacao can lead to the burning of stored body fat!
2. Raw Cacao: High in Antioxidants and Immune System Support
Cocoa has been found to be rich in polyphenols, making it a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants help to fight free radicals, which cause cellular damage. This helps slow the aging process and prevent day-to-day damage to your body from free radicals.
Dark chocolate has been found to assist in immune system function. Since dark chocolate is also a good source of zinc, it has been proven beneficial in boosting the immune response in the body. Zinc aids the body in activating T lymphocytes (T cells). T cells are immune system cells that help keep the body from infection.
3. Dark Chocolate Encourages a Positive Mood
I don’t know about you, but when I even think about eating chocolate, I rapidly feel my mood becoming elevated. This boost in mood that we link to cacao is not only due to how delicious it tastes, but also the flavonol, polyphenol, and antioxidant content of cacao. Your body knows it’s good for you!
These compounds found in cacao have been shown to reduce mental fatigue, boost our cognitive abilities, and even reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. These changes lead to a healthier brain, which can benefit every aspect of our brain function, from mood to concentration abilities.
In Conclusion, Eat More Dark Chocolate!
So there you have it: eat more dark chocolate and lose weight, boost your immune system, and improve your brain health.
When picking out chocolate, it is best to purchase organic dark chocolate. You can even find raw chocolate at some health food stores. Use this Valentine’s Day as an excuse to indulge in something delicious and boost your health all at the same time!
Warning: Long term consumption can lead to sexy nights and happy Valentine’s days!
References:
- Health benefits of cocoa
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24100674
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3671179/
