You read that right, chocolate can actually be considered healthy! While it’s not a replacement for vegetables and over-processed chocolate usually contains excessive sugar and other additives, there are chocolates that you can eat daily without feeling guilty. Experts highlight dark chocolate specifically to be packed with different health benefits, so next time you need a reason to grab a dark chocolate square, pick one from below:
Stress Reduction
Cortisol is the chemical released in the brain when someone is feeling stressed, and research has proven time and time again that people who ate moderate amounts of chocolate regularly released less cortisol and reported lower stress levels than those who didn’t. This could be related to chocolate’s positive impact on heart health because heart attacks and strokes are often exacerbated by stress.
Heart Health
Speaking of heart health, chocolate is filled with antioxidants that are known for reducing blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease and an increased risk of heart attacks or strokes. Keeping your heart health in check is so important, so this is a great reason to have some chocolate every day – the darker the better! Dark chocolate is more pure cacao, which is where the health benefits come from, so the darker the chocolate, the more health benefits you’re likely to experience.
Better Brain Function
By helping increase blood flow to the brain, chocolate lovers are more likely to have better reaction time, stronger memory, and a decreased risk of cognitive decline. In fact, one Harvard Medical School study found that hot chocolate could help reduce memory decline and increase brain health in older individuals. Whether you’re young, old, or somewhere in between, ensuring sharp cognitive health is critical!
Skin Health
Filled with vitamins and minerals like copper, iron, magnesium, and manganese, dark chocolate has some of the best ingredients to aid in the production of collagen, which helps keep your skin looking young and healthy. Some studies have even shown that the antioxidants in chocolate can act as a natural form of UV protection. UV rays are insanely harmful to human skin, so any way to get added protection from the sun is a win.
Enhanced Athletic Performance
One of the flavanols in chocolate is called epicatechin, which is known for increasing the body’s production of nitric acid and lowering the amount of oxygen an athlete needs during exercise. This can help prevent fatigue and allow athletic performance to last longer.
Find Quality Chocolate at La Brioche
As mentioned, the purer the chocolate, the better it is for you. At La Brioche, a family-owned house of chocolate in Amman, Jordan, the recipe for all their products has been perfected. Since 1950, Adnan M-K Jabri put countless hours into perfecting the production process, sourcing quality ingredients, and creating art with chocolate.
Today, his son, Omar A Jabri, carries on the values that his father started the chocolate shop with. With every bite, you’ll enjoy the decadent ingredients that are rich in flavor and love. This chocolate is so delicious that you won’t need any other reason to eat it, but if you do, consider the health benefits!
Chocolatier
Omar Jabri