Not all chocolate is bad for you.

While most of the sugary stuff sold in supermarkets are indeed high in additives, preservatives and other junk, high-quality dark chocolates are rich in health benefits.

In this article, do note that dark chocolate refers to chocolates with at least 70% cocoa or above and having an ingredient list that does not contain a large quantity of unpronounceable chemical names.

For anything less than that, any possible benefits are usually negated by the large amount of “rubbish” being added to the cocoa during the manufacturing process.

[1] Rich in essential minerals

For instance, 100 grams of dark chocolate contains 11 grams of soluble fibre, as well as being high in iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium.

Dark chocolate also contains mostly saturated and monounsaturated fats as well as stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine in small quantities.

But do note that the lower the cocoa percentage, the higher the sugar content contained in the dark chocolate. So remember to eat and savour it in moderation, and don’t gulp down an entire bar in one go.

[2] Rich in antioxidants

As compared to blueberries and acai berries, cocoa beans actually have a higher content of antioxidants, polyphenols, flavonoids and catechins, all of which are useful and help fight against and destroy the harmful free radicals in the body.

[3] Protects against heart disease

The cocoa in dark chocolate can raise your good cholesterol (HDL) and reduce the bad cholesterol (LDL) in your body, in this way, thereby protecting you against heart disease, heart attack and diabetes.

[4] Protect against sun damage

The flavonoids in dark chocolate can protect your skin against sun damage as well as improving blood flow to the skin and increasing skin density and hydration.

[5] Helps with brain functioning and wards off mental illness

Consumption of dark chocolate can improve the blood flow from your body to your brain, in this way protecting you against mental illness and cognitive function, as well as verbal fluency. This is due to the stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine contained in dark chocolate.

Conclusion

While dark chocolate has several health benefits, this is definitely not an excuse to go to the supermarket and load up on all the dark chocolate that you can find. 

Remember to go for high-quality and reputable brands of chocolate containing at least 70% cocoa, in order to reap some of these benefits for yourself. 

Most of the chocolate sold out there in the shops is sugary confectionery rather than chocolate, so you need to read the labels and be aware of what to choose.

Otherwise you’ll just be kidding yourself, and winding up consuming large amounts of sugar and calories instead.