Physicians Health

Scientists say that eating 40-50 g of black chocolate elevates your mood and helps you overcome depression. What other benefits does black chocolate have?

First, let’s say that dark bitter chocolate is much better for you than the sweet, milky alternative. Dark chocolate contains more polyphenols, which raise the level of serotonin in your blood and helps to fight depression as well as chronic fatigue syndrome. Even the aroma of chocolate puts you in a good mood and makes you feel strong and cheerful. Besides, chocolate helps your brain work, so it’s good to have when you need to do lots of mental work.

Black chocolate is rich with flavonoids and so it is a strong antioxidant. Flavonoids stop the oxidation of cells (because of oxidation cells are damaged, which is the main reason for many diseases), reducing the number of blood clots and the level of “bad” cholesterol (lipoproteins). Dark chocolate can help prevent heart attacks and strokes (talk about this with your doctor). Scientists even say that those who have already had heart attacks in the past will probably not  have them again if they eat dark chocolate.

Black chocolate, being a good antioxidant, has a positive effect not only on your cardiovascular system, but on your entire body as it can also help prevent cancer (talk to your doctor to understand how).

Cocoa-beans from which chocolate is made are rich in nutritional vitamins, proteins, iron (helps to prevent anemia and provides your body with energy and strength), magnesium (lowers your blood pressure and helps your nervous and muscular system), potassium (helps send oxygen to your brain and it enhances your mental abilities while making your immune system stronger), phosphorus (makes your bones stronger and helps you recover after injuries) and lots of other minerals.

A small amount of black chocolate is enough to reap the benefit of these positive effects, so it’s not necessary to eat lots of it. And remember that it’s better to eat dark chocolate in general, especially if you don’t want to gain weight. Milk chocolate usually contains a lot of sugar and fat. It can not only make you fat, it can also can spoil your teeth and cause diabetes.

Photo © Kirti Poddar

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