Many think that a box of gourmet chocolate truffles is an unhealthy indulgence. However, if you choose the best dark chocolate, you are actually probably doing far more good than harm to your body.
While you’ve probably heard that dark chocolate has a number of health benefits. Researchers are finding more and more benefits of consuming organic dark chocolate every year.
Aren’t you so glad that chocolate is no longer at the top of the food pyramid, where the unhealthy fats and sugars lurk? Before you go diving into your stash of gourmet chocolate truffles, read on to find out the several health benefits of chocolate:
Antioxidants
Chocolate is made from the seed of cocoa trees and is considered one of the highest sources of antioxidants out there. The Cacao plant is full of organic compounds that are antioxidants, including polyphenols, flavanols, and catechins. Antioxidants help to prevent cell damage in the body and is said to stave off cancer and a number of other serious diseases.
Healthy Fats
Thankfully, our culture has gotten past the idea that fats are bad for you. And when it comes to dark chocolate, you couldn’t get any healthier fats. Dark chocolate contains saturated and monounsaturated fats that only contain t race amounts of polyunsaturates. These saturated fatty acids effectively help the body to maintain good heart health and also lower cholesterol.
Insulin Resistance
Studies show that chocolate can actually help with insulin resistance, which is typically a risk factor for diabetes.
Low in Caffeine
While there is a myth that chocolate is a high-caffeine food, this is simply not true. In fact, chocolate contains trace amounts of caffeine, making it the perfect bedtime — or any time of the day, really — snack.
Now that you know the health benefits of chocolate, tell us how you plan to chow down on the sweet decadent treat!