5 amazing health benefits of dark chocolate

(Dan Tri) - The "love gift" of couples on many special occasions - dark chocolate - brings many unexpected health benefits. However, dark chocolate can also contain a lot of sugar and calories.

For chocolate addicts, dark chocolate is a great health choice, because it has a slightly bitter taste, contains less sugar and has many benefits (antioxidants, good for the heart, improves mood...).

Eating dark chocolate with a moderate amount of cocoa can provide your body with antioxidants and minerals, and protect you from heart disease. However, dark chocolate can also be high in sugar and calories, so eat it in moderation.

Dark chocolate has many great health benefits, but should only be consumed in moderation as it also contains sugar and calories (Photo: Getty).

Dark chocolate is packed with nutrients that provide health benefits. Made from cacao beans, it is one of the best sources of antioxidants.

Several studies have shown that dark chocolate can improve health and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Here are five scientifically proven health benefits of dark chocolate.

Highly nutritious

If you buy a bag of good quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, it is quite nutritious. It contains a moderate amount of fiber and many minerals.

A 50g bar of dark chocolate with 70-85% cocoa contains about 5.5g of fiber; 33% of iron, 28% of magnesium; 98% of copper, and 43% of manganese needed in a day.

In addition, it is rich in potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium. Moreover, dark chocolate contains a very good fatty acid composition, mainly including many heart-healthy fats such as oleic acid, stearic acid and palmitic acid.

Stearic acid has a cholesterol-neutralizing effect on the body. Although palmitic acid can raise cholesterol levels, it only accounts for ⅓ of total calories from fat.

Of course, 50g of dark chocolate is quite a large amount, and it also contains 300 calories and 12g of sugar. For that reason, dark chocolate should be consumed in moderation.

May improve blood circulation and lower blood pressure

Flavonoids found in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium to produce nitric oxide.

One of the functions of nitric oxide is to send signals to the arteries to relax, which helps reduce resistance to blood flow and thereby helps lower blood pressure.

Some studies have shown that flavonoids found in cocoa and dark chocolate may help improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. However, many studies are still mixed.

A 2019 study in women found that eating dark chocolate with 85% cocoa content slightly increased blood pressure about 2 hours after eating. However, eating dark chocolate during stressful times actually slightly reduced blood pressure and heart rate.

Because of the large variation between studies on this topic, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of dark chocolate on blood pressure.

May reduce the risk of heart disease

Compounds found in dark chocolate appear to have high protective effects against oxidation.

In the long run, this can lead to less cholesterol buildup in the arteries, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.

In fact, many studies have shown significant improvements with dark chocolate consumption.

Over time, consuming flavonoid-rich cocoa or dark chocolate may help improve heart health, lower blood pressure, and protect against cardiovascular disease.

A 2017 review found that eating chocolate three times a week reduced the risk of heart disease by 9%. However, chocolate should not be eaten regularly because the high amount of sugar in it can make you fat.

Another 2018 review also found that eating 45g of chocolate per week reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by 11%.

Although these findings are promising, more evidence is needed to determine whether consuming dark chocolate reduces the risk of heart disease.

Has the ability to help protect your skin from the sun

Compounds found in dark chocolate may also provide benefits for your skin.

A 2021 review found that flavonoids may help: Protect skin from sun damage; improve blood circulation under the skin; increase skin moisture.

If you're planning a beach vacation, consider including more dark chocolate in the weeks and months leading up to it.

However, remember that dark chocolate cannot replace sunscreen and other sun protection measures.

Improve brain function

Studies have shown that eating dark chocolate with high-quality cocoa and flavonoid content can help improve blood circulation in the brain in young people. This may explain why eating chocolate every day seems to improve concentration, verbal learning and memory.

Flavonoids may also maintain brain health and thinking ability in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, while reducing the risk of progression to dementia. However, more research is needed on this issue.

Additionally, dark chocolate contains stimulants like caffeine and theobromine, which may be the main reason why it can improve brain function in the short term.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/5-loi-ich-tuyet-voi-cua-socho-den-voi-suc-khoe-20250926065918007.htm