From cocoa comes dark chocolates, one of the best antioxidants and mood boosters in the planet. Studies show that dark chocolate can improve ones health and lower the risk of heart disease. Other health benefits of dark chocolate include:
–Improves insulin sensitivity
Some research suggests that dark chocolate could help improve your body’s sensitivity to insulin, the hormone responsible for shuttling sugar out of your bloodstream and into your cells where it can be used for energy. This helps decrease levels of insulin in the blood, which may be associated with increased weight loss and reduced fat storage.
–Improves blood flow and reduces blood pressure
The flavanols in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium, the lining of arteries, to produce nitric oxide. One of the functions of nitric oxide is to send signals to the arteries to relax, which lowers the resistance to blood flow and therefore reduces blood pressure. Many controlled studies show that cocoa and dark chocolate can improve blood flow and lower blood pressure.
–Protects skin from the sun
The bioactive compounds in dark chocolate may also be great for your skin. The flavonols can protect against sun damage, improve blood flow to the skin and increase skin density and hydratiom. The minimal erythemal dose (MED) is the minimum amount of UVB rays required to cause redness in the skin 24 hours after exposure. In one study of 30 people, the MED more than doubled after consuming dark chocolate high in flavanols for 12 weeks.
–Improves brain function
Dark chocolate may also improve the function of your brain. Cocoa may also significantly improve cognitive function in elderly people with mental impairment. It may improve verbal fluency and several risk factors for disease, as well. Additionally, cocoa contains stimulant substances like caffeine and theobromine, which may be a key reason why it can improve brain function in the short term.