I’ve Been Eating Dark Chocolate For The Past Year. Here’s Why
Chocolate lovers unite!
Fun fact- As early as 1887, Cocoa was known to be a source of currency in the Mexican area of the world.
I love chocolate.
I've been munching on them since I was a kid. Probably a bit too much, which led to me being skinny and fat for a bit.
Then again, I was doing what kids do…
Fast forward to now, and I recently read a book called Genius Foods. I was surprised to find Dark Chocolate on the list! I learned a lot from the book and was curious for more, so I did my own research, too.
Here’s why you should be consuming them, too: for longevity, healthier skin, and better health in general.
The Polyphenol Angle
Polyphenols are a type of chemical compound that is found in plants. They have been shown to have a huge positive effect on the body through various avenues.
Cocoa is one of the foods with a high dose of polyphenols.
If we dig a little deeper, we find a subclass within polyphenols known as flavonols, which is the amazing thing that gives chocolate its health properties.
Reducing Cognitive Aging
Cognitive aging refers to someone who experiences changes in the ability to think, learn, or remember.
A study has shown that the flavanols in Dark chocolate have helped protect a region in the hippocampus linked to the continuous production of new neurons formed in the brain.
This means that the brain can still create new neural pathways and, as a result, can reduce aging since this function deteriorates with age.
Dark Chocolate is a longevity food.
Improved Memory
Within the same study, it was ALSO shown that memory was improved among the participants.
Better Metabolic Health
Metabolic health refers to having low blood sugar, blood pressure, and a good cholesterol level, all within a healthy range.
In another study, cocoa flavanols were used to treat cognitive impairment(people with pre-dementia). The results showed that their insulin sensitivity improved when these people consumed cocoa flavanols.
This is amazing since these issues are precursors to certain diseases like strokes, diabetes, and heart disease.
Athletic Performance
Yes, you read that right. These bad boys can help you perform better in sports, too! Here’s how.
In one study, the flavanoids in Dark chocolate were shown to increase the bioavailability of nitric oxide, a compound that can dilate blood vessels, reduce oxygen consumption, and also reduce blood pressure.
This means that more blood can travel to the muscle being worked. This study showed a significant increase in athletes' Endurance.
Talk about an interesting pre-workout meal.
I think it's now obvious how amazing this superfood is.
Yes, I’m calling it a superfood.
So now you're probably stoked to get your hands on dark chocolate and give this a shot.
But we should be careful about the kind of chocolates we buy.
The Dark Chocolate Buying Guide
To get the most out of what you buy, follow this simple guide on what to look for.
Get chocolate that is roughly 85% or higher.
Chocolate still gets a bad rep, but that's because of the amount of sugar it contains.
By opting for higher percentages, you are already getting a lower dose of sugar, and at the same time, you will feel more satiated after eating just a couple of blocks.
The lesser the number of ingredients, the better
Now, this is a no-brainer, but the best-case scenario of dark chocolates should only contain three ingredients:
- Cocoa butter
- Cocoa Powder
- Sweetener
Some bars might also contain an emulsifier. Choose a soy or sunflower-type emulsifier as much as possible, as some of the others can have detrimental effects on your body, such as inflammation.
Dont get cocoa that was processed with alkali (dutch processing)
Dutch processing degrades the cocoa and hence also affects the flavanols present in the cocoa. So, if you want the best effects, opt for one not Dutch-processed.
Skip white chocolate and milk chocolate.
This is a no-brainer because of the added ingredients and, more importantly, the high sugar content of these chocolates.
I’ve found a few examples of bars that fill these criteria if you are interested!
Ever since reading the book, I’ve been eating dark chocolate on and off as a snack during the day.
I implore you to try it out as well. And let me know if you see any notable changes!
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