Does it sound too good to be true that Chocolate can be good for you? Should we be eating more of it? Why did several of the longest-lived people eat chocolate, sometimes lots of it, on a regular basis? We’re going to answer those questions right now!
My mom, superlistener Hank Davis, is an excellent researcher and found some great material for me today. How can YOU be a superlistener like Hank? All you have to do is engage. I love to hear from listeners and I would love for you to be an active and interactive part of the show. So contact me at mail@runningafever.com with your comments, questions, and suggestions.
Back to chocolate. Yes, chocolate has health benefits. I remember a book that I reviewed by Michael Matthews called Bigger, Leaner Stronger (episode 127 in Febrary of this year, and that is a video episode you can find on southernbooktube.com. In the book he suggests putting a little chocolate into your day as a treat, if you like chocolate.
We also know that several of our super-centenarians ate chocolate on a regular basis, especially Sara Knauss (episode 169), who ate chocolate every day until her death at the age of 119.
But in addition to providing the psychological boost of having a treat, chocolate has some beneficial nutritional qualities. An article on chauaochocolatier.com calls dark chocolate a super-food!
1. Longevity
Dark chocolate in particular is high in a substance known as flavinoids, which are antioxidants. Having plentiful antioxidants in your body is like rust-proofing your car. It makes your body last longer and prevents deterioration.
2. Rich in nutrients
The main ingredient in chocolate is cocoa, from the cocoa bean, which comes from the cacao plant. Dark chocolate has much more cocoa than milk chocolate. Cocoa contains essential nutrients like iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus. Dark chocolate also has less fat and sugar than milk chocolate, and contains no dairy products at all.
3. Reduces the risk of cancer
Phytochemicals contained in dark chocolate also have antioxidant qualities that are particularly applicable to prevention of cancer, and boost brain chemicals like endorphins and serotonin (see episodes 139,150,152), which can improve the mood of cancer patients. I think that is really important, as depression is one of the most common complications of chronic illness.
4. Reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers blood pressure.
Eating dark chocolate raises HDL cholesterol and protects LDL from oxidation, and high oxidized LDL cholesterol is a contributing factor to heart disease. Also, dark chocolate is high in soluble fiber, containin 11g per 100g bar. A study by the NHLBI (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute) showed that eating dark chocolate 2 or more times a week reduced risk of calcified arterial plaque by 32%.
5. Improves circulation
Dark chocolate contains nitric oxide, which, though it sounds like a dangerous chemical, actually can keep blood vessels clear and reduce inflamation.
6. Encourages weight loss
Yes, you can lose weight by eating chocolate. I’m not endorsing a chocolate diet by any means, but MODERATE amounds of dark chocolate can help control appetite, as its flavinoids help to balance blood sugar levels.
7. A natural sunscreen
Dark chocolate can protect you from damage due to overexposure to the sun. One study showed that tolerance to sun exposure doubled after consuming dark chocolate high in flavinoids for 12 weeks. I’d still use sunscreen if I were you, but a little dark chocolate is a good snack for before you go outdoors.
8. Improves cognitive function
The antioxidants in dark chocolate can help prevent age-related memory decline. And the improved circulation due to the nitric oxide can also contribute to better brain function.
9. Reduces stress
A new study found that people who eat chocolate lower their level of cortisol, which, as we found in episode 154, is the stress hormone.
Be careful when you shop for dark chocolate. It may be mixed with other things, so you want to check the label to make sure it is high in cocoa, and low in sugar and fat. Look for at least 70% cacao solids. Also, be very careful with your portion control, because though nutritious, dark chocolate is also high in calories. 101g bar is 604 calories. So don’t eat the whole thing! But if you can fit it in to your daily caloric intake, and you enjoy it, you’ll be doing yourself a delicious and healthy favor.
There are actually many more benefits to eating dark chocolate and I recommend you check out the links in the show notes at http://RunningAFEVER.com/187.
References:
http://RunningAFEVER.com/127
http://RunningAFEVER.com/139
http://RunningAFEVER.com/150
http://RunningAFEVER.com/152
http://RunningAFEVER.com/156
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9288-chronic-illness-and-depression
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20655129
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Heart,_Lung,_and_Blood_Institute
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324747.php
https://chuaochocolatier.com/9-health-benefits-of-dark-chocolate-you-need-to-know.html
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