No matter what time of the year it is, chocolate is a delicious snack and with Christmas around the corner, you may find yourself wanting to indulge. If it’s one of your favorites, you don’t have to feel guilty about indulging. Instead, you can take advantage of the many health benefits of dark chocolate!
The darker you go, the more benefits you get, so aim for a bar with at least 70% cacao.
Milk chocolate has a lower percentage of cacao solids with higher sugar and fat content.
White chocolate contains no cacao solids at all. This means milk chocolate and white chocolate are not as beneficial.
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Don’t want to give up on those chocolate cravings? Here are seven reasons why you can enjoy dark chocolate guilt-free:
7. Lower Blood Pressure
Flavanols stimulate the cells in the walls of your arteries to produce nitric oxide, which helps the arteries relax, improves blood flow, and lowers blood pressure. This ultimately reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke.
6. Improve Heart Health
Cocoa contains antioxidants called polyphenols and flavanols, which protect the heart.
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One study showed that people who ate dark chocolate more than five times per week had a 57% lower risk of heart disease.
This is believed to occur due to the effect on blood pressure and cholesterol.
