Enjoy healthy: the health benefits of dark chocolate
Chocolate with a high cocoa content not only tastes tartly charming, it also contains many healthy ingredients. Some can even make a difference in health. Enjoyed in moderation, consuming dark chocolate can not only enrich our taste experience, but also make a small contribution to a healthier lifestyle.
How healthy is dark chocolate really?
Dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 70% or more contains many health-promoting ingredients. It also contains significantly less sugar than other types of chocolate. Easy to remember: the higher the cocoa content, the lower the amount of sugar. As a result, it also has significantly fewer calories and is a healthier alternative to milk chocolate. But that's not all: dark chocolate has a positive effect on serotonin levels , also known as the happiness hormone, lowers blood pressure and improves brain performance. The reason why dark chocolate has so many positive effects is because of the cocoa it contains. The antioxidants in cocoa protect the cells, while the anti-inflammatory polyphenols have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system. A healthy intestinal flora can also benefit from the components of cocoa, as bacteria feed on them and produce anti-inflammatory substances.
New scientific knowledge
Good news: The consumption of dark chocolate can be associated with a number of positive effects on our health and studies show cardioprotective and microbiome-promoting effects .
What does that mean exactly? A meta-analysis , published in the journal Clinical Nutrition , examined the association between dark chocolate consumption and outcomes that have an important effect on cardiovascular risk. The results show that dark chocolate consumption can lower fasting glucose (the amount of sugar in the blood after 12 hours without food) and blood lipids, which reduces the risk of diabetes and vascular disease.
Another meta-analysis , published in Nutrients , examined the relationship between cocoa product consumption and blood pressure. With the result that chocolate with a high cocoa content can have an antihypertensive effect, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
A recent randomized study examined the effects of dark chocolate consumption on mood and the gut microbiome. The results confirm that dark chocolate consumption resulted in an improvement in overall mood and increased microbiome diversity.
Background: The microbiome describes the entirety of all microorganisms that live in a certain habitat, such as the intestine. The intestinal microbiome plays an important role in human health, as it is involved in the breakdown of food components, influences the immune system and can also affect the brain.
Although these studies show promising results, it is important to note that the power of these studies is limited and larger, randomized trials are needed to truly confirm the protective effects of cocoa products," said Andel Douedari , MD Effect strength of dark chocolate remains difficult to assess and requires further scientific research. It's important to be aware of the limitations of these studies when considering the effects of food on our health.
Overall, however, we can rest assured that moderate consumption of quality, dark chocolate can be beneficial to our health. A balanced diet and regular exercise remain the most important factors for a healthy life.
