Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Chocolate has been consumed by people for over five millennia. Archaeologists have discovered traces of cacao in pottery that was used by the ancient Mayo-Chinchipe culture 5,300 years ago. For thousands of years people have consumed beverages and food that contain cacao. We still value chocolate today, the average person eats 12-19 pounds of chocolate each year. If you like dark chocolate, you’ll be happy to hear that dark chocolate has a wide range of health benefits.

For chocolate to be considered “dark” it needs to contain at least 50% cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar but no milk. The darker the chocolate, the more cocoa solids you’re getting which equals more health benefits.

Cocoa is rich in flavanols, which include antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory effects can help prevent blood clots. There have also been studies that suggest dark chocolate can have a positive effect on reducing blood pressure. Endothelial cells help control the vascular system and keep the body’s blood flowing. In the study, people who ate dark chocolate for a week saw increased endothelial function and lower blood pressure.

Just one or two ounces of dark chocolate per day is more than enough to get the health benefits. You will want to read the labels of dark chocolate carefully to be certain you are getting the actual benefits and not just consuming more sugar and calories than you mean to. The darker the chocolate is, the more caffeine it contains, so be mindful of that as well. Look for dark chocolate that is 70% or more to get the health benefits you want. The darker it is, the more bitter it can be, so eating it plain may not be the tastiest option. Try serving it with fresh fruit or melting it and stirring it into plain oatmeal.