Benefits of dark chocolate or dark chocolate very good for maintaining health. This healthy food is known to help prevent high blood pressure, as well as maintain brain and heart health. The various benefits of dark chocolate cannot be separated from the nutritional content in it.
Chocolate is a type of food made from the cocoa plant. Chocolate consists of various types, one of which is dark chocolate. The thing that distinguishes dark chocolate from other types of chocolate is the content of the cocoa plant which is used as the basic ingredient.
Ordinary chocolate that is widely available in the market is usually already mixed with milk and sugar and only contains 10% of the cocoa plant.
Meanwhile, in dark chocolate, the pure cocoa content is higher, which is between 35-85%. Dark chocolate is not mixed with milk and contains less sugar. Therefore, the taste of dark chocolate is stronger and bitter than regular chocolate.
What are the Nutrients Contained dnature Dark Chocolate?
Dark chocolate has a variety of nutritional content that is beneficial for the health of the body. By consuming about 100 grams of dark chocolate, you can get the following nutrients:
- About 3 to 4.5 grams of fiber
- 60-100 grams of carbohydrates
- 4.8 – 5 grams of protein
- 50 – 60 mg calcium
- 8 mg of iron
- 140 – 150 mg magnesium
- 200 mg phosphorus
- 500 – 550 mg potassium
In addition, dark chocolate is also enriched theobromine (an anti-inflammatory substance found only in cacao plants), zinc, caffeine, fat, a number of vitamins, namely vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E, and vitamin K. You can also get various types of antioxidants, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and catechins, in high amounts from dark chocolate.
What are the Benefits of Dark Chocolate?
According to several studies, the safe limit for consuming dark chocolate is around 40 grams per day. This is because dark chocolate contains high calories as well as caffeine and fat. In a serving of dark chocolate, contained about 230-250 calories.
If consumed as a healthy snack in the right amount, dark chocolate can bring the following benefits:
1. Protects the body from exposure to free radicals
A number of medical studies state that the cocoa plant is a plant that contains a lot of antioxidants. Antioxidants themselves function to fight free radicals that can damage body cells and cause various health problems, one of which is cancer.
By eating foods rich in antioxidants, such as dark chocolate, you can maintain your health.
2. Relieve stress
There are many things that can stress you out, from work pressures, family problems, to relationships with your partner. If that's the case, try to calm yourself down or relax while snacking on dark chocolate.
A study has shown that consuming dark chocolate can relieve stress, help calm anxiety, and improve mood. If you consume it regularly every day for 2 weeks, then dark chocolate can reduce the production of stress hormones, so that stress can be overcome.
3. Maintain brain health and function
The content of nutrients and antioxidants contained in dark chocolate has a big role in improving blood flow to the brain and maintaining brain function.
Various studies have also shown that regular consumption of dark chocolate can help maintain cognitive function and memory, so that the risk of developing dementia or dementia can be reduced.
In addition, the benefits of dark chocolate can also reduce the risk of stroke. Stroke is one of the most common causes of death and disability in Indonesia.
Based on research, people who regularly consume dark chocolate every day have a lower risk of stroke than people who rarely or never eat chocolate.
4. Maintain blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease
In addition to stroke, the disease that causes the most deaths in Indonesia is heart disease. Several factors that can increase your risk for heart disease are having high blood pressure and excess cholesterol.
To prevent this, the consumption of dark chocolate can be an option. The high antioxidant and potassium content in dark chocolate seems beneficial to help maintain normal blood pressure.
The content of nutrients and antioxidants in dark chocolate is also known to increase good cholesterol (HDL) and prevent blockages in blood vessels (atherosclerosis) which is the cause of heart disease and stroke.
5. Maintain skin health and beauty
The antioxidant content of flavonoids in dark chocolate is also useful for protecting the skin from sun exposure which can cause skin wrinkles and premature skin aging.
Dark chocolate also contains various nutrients that play a role in the production of collagen. This protein has an important role in maintaining skin elasticity and moisture, thus making the skin look more attractive.
6. Good for keeping blood sugar stable
Several studies show that the antioxidant and nutritional content in dark chocolate seems to be able to keep blood sugar stable and improve the performance of the hormone insulin. This effect is good for controlling diabetes.
But remember, what is consumed is dark chocolate. Not chocolate that is rich in sugar and milk because the chocolate has a taste that is too sweet (too much sugar), so it can actually make blood sugar rise.
Tips for Buying Dark Chocolate
To get quality dark chocolate with a taste that is certainly delicious, there are some tips that you can follow when buying it, namely:
- Avoid buying dark chocolate with added trans fat, milk, sugar, and artificial flavours.
- Choose dark chocolate products made from 70% cocoa.
- Choose dark chocolate that has not gone through the alkalizing process, which is the addition of alkaline ingredients in the cocoa powder processing.
- Choose dark chocolate products that are labeled organic.
- To enrich nutrition, choose dark chocolate with added nuts, such as almonds and cashews.
Now, now you know what are the benefits and nutritional content of dark chocolate, right? If previously you often eat unhealthy snacks, such as fried foods, ice cream, or sweet chocolate, now try switching to healthy snacks, such as dark chocolate.