1.70% dark chocolate has been shown in recent studies to cut dangers of cardiovascular disease by 50% and reduce the risks of stroke, Alzheimer's and diabetes.
2. Stroke happens when blood thickens and causes a clot to lodge in the brain. Eating dark chocolate causes bacteria in your gut to manufacture anti-inflammatories which thin the blood, lessening the chance of you getting a stroke.
3. A report summarizing the results of 20 different studies on the benefits of dark chocolate, showed that participants blood pressure was lowered by some 3 to 4 points after regularly eating dark chocolate.
4. A very good improvement in blood flow was observed even in young, healthy men who were given a small square of 70% dark chocolate every day for a month. The flow increase ranged from 14% to 23%.
5. Are you concerned about your cholesterol? Well, daily eating a square of dark chocolate can increase the good cholesterol (HDL) and lower bad cholesterol (LDL).
6. The anti-oxidants in dark chocolate seem to be so good for so many things! A recently published research paper showed that they could improve insulin sensitivity in diabetics. They even showed insulin sensitivity improvement in non-diabetics.
7. 70% dark chocolate could even protect your teeth as it contains Theobromine, which can harden tooth enamel.
8. Increased protection from sun damage to your skin could also be experienced if you regularly ate dark chocolate.
9. A substance released by the brain called phenylethylamine is responsible for helping you feel happy and relaxed. This substance has been shown to increase on eating dark chocolate stimulating the production of the feel good hormones.
Advice On Choosing Chocolate
Do Buy clearly labelled 70% or higher dark chocolate. This was the strength used in the above studies. If you don't mind the taste, 80% or even 90% is even better. Don't buy the milky, sweet varieties. This is because the flavonols, which are responsible for the above benefits, have been stripped out of the milky, sweet chocolate to make way for the sweeter taste.
2. Stroke happens when blood thickens and causes a clot to lodge in the brain. Eating dark chocolate causes bacteria in your gut to manufacture anti-inflammatories which thin the blood, lessening the chance of you getting a stroke.
3. A report summarizing the results of 20 different studies on the benefits of dark chocolate, showed that participants blood pressure was lowered by some 3 to 4 points after regularly eating dark chocolate.
4. A very good improvement in blood flow was observed even in young, healthy men who were given a small square of 70% dark chocolate every day for a month. The flow increase ranged from 14% to 23%.
5. Are you concerned about your cholesterol? Well, daily eating a square of dark chocolate can increase the good cholesterol (HDL) and lower bad cholesterol (LDL).
6. The anti-oxidants in dark chocolate seem to be so good for so many things! A recently published research paper showed that they could improve insulin sensitivity in diabetics. They even showed insulin sensitivity improvement in non-diabetics.
7. 70% dark chocolate could even protect your teeth as it contains Theobromine, which can harden tooth enamel.
8. Increased protection from sun damage to your skin could also be experienced if you regularly ate dark chocolate.
9. A substance released by the brain called phenylethylamine is responsible for helping you feel happy and relaxed. This substance has been shown to increase on eating dark chocolate stimulating the production of the feel good hormones.
Advice On Choosing Chocolate
Do Buy clearly labelled 70% or higher dark chocolate. This was the strength used in the above studies. If you don't mind the taste, 80% or even 90% is even better. Don't buy the milky, sweet varieties. This is because the flavonols, which are responsible for the above benefits, have been stripped out of the milky, sweet chocolate to make way for the sweeter taste.
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