Benefits of Black Chocolate for Health

ANDROCOMVIRAL-Chocolate is the name for processed food or drink from cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao). Chocolate was first consumed by ancient Mesoamerican residents as a drink, although it was believed that chocolate was only consumed by nobles.

One of several foods that are included in super foods or foods with high nutritional content so that they have health benefits are dark chocolate.

Research shows that dark chocolate can nourish the heart and blood pressure because of its high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant content.

This type of chocolate is also believed to be able to improve mood and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD nutritionist and author of Skinny Liver explains, many experts note that there are health benefits from the chemical content in cocoa called polyphenols, especially flavonoids, plant components that contain antioxidants and anti-inflammation.

However, Men's Health nutrition advisor Alan Aragon, MS suggested that consumption of dark chocolate is still done in a wise amount because chocolate is an energy source (an average of 150-170 calories per ounce).

Consuming it excessively will make us easily over calorie and gain weight.

How is the right consumption advice?

Choose dark chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 70 percent.

Kirkatrick says, the higher the content the better, but the taste is more bitter.

Low cocoa content makes chocolate mixed with more cream or other ingredients as flavor.

Well, there are at least three main benefits of consuming dark chocolate.

1. Give extra magnesium

About 68 percent of people experience magnesium deficiency.

In fact, magnesium is an important ingredient for more than 300 processes in the body.

Aragon said, dark chocolate is a mineral source.

Every 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate contains around 228 mg of magnesium, helping us meet the needs of 400 mg of magnesium per day.

2. Healthy heart

The effect of flavonol (a type of flavonoids) on chocolate can improve the ability of anti-inflammation and stabilize blood pressure so that it can improve heart health.

A study involved a number of healthy men as participants.

They consume about 0.5 grams of flavonol from cocoa twice a day for two weeks.

After the study went on, they found an increase in blood vessel function, decreased blood pressure and improved cholesterol levels.

The same study also found that participants had a lower risk of developing heart disease, heart attack or dying from other diseases.

3. Useful for the brain

According to a review published by Frontiers in Nutrition, flavonol is also good for the brain because it can improve brain cell function, protect fragile brain cells and even stimulate cell regeneration.

This is probably due to the protection of proteins.

As a result, the attention span will increase, we are able to think faster and increase memory. The benefits can be even greater.

Flavonoids in dark chocolate may one day be used to treat degenerative nerve diseases, such as Alzheimer's.

A study in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease found an association between chocolate consumption and the risk of cognitive decline.

This is probably due to the protective effect of flavonoids on cocoa.