Chocolate is officially good for you. Well, in moderation of course - and the type we're talking about is high quality, low sugar, plain chocolate with a high cocoa percentage - not the cheap milk chocolate surrounding your Crunchie Bar (although that is GOOD).
In honour of chocolate week, we run down the 10 ways chocolate is beneficial to your health. Go forth and scoff.
Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
**1. Chocolate Can Make You Slim **
A University of California study of 1,000 Americans found that the majority of people who eat chocolate regularly have less body fat than those who do not. 1,000 people in the US. A small amount of chocolate eaten throughout the week was proven to actually boost metabolism, making the body burn off fat, and was also linked to a lower BMI in the study.
Chocolate can help banish wrinkles, and the flavanols in chocolate can help protect against sun damage.
According to The Telegraph, Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, which is the chemical that your brain creates when you feel like you’re falling in love.
A 50g bar of plain chocolate contains 1.2mg of iron, and 45mg of magnesium, as well as potassium, zinc and selenium. A 100g of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) provides 67% of the RDA of iron.
One study found that cocoa and dark chocolate have more antioxidant activity than superfoods like blueberries and acai berries.
A study in Finland found that eating chocolate reduced stress in expectant mothers.
Well, sort of. Neuroscientist Will Clower says a small square of decent chocolate melted on the tongue 20 minutes before a meal triggers hormones that say "I'm full". Finishing a meal wit the same could curb snacking. But main-lining kitkats will not have the same effect, because...sugar!
According to this study, chocolate's anti-inflammatory properties and high flavanol content can help reduce memory loss.
A German study found that 1.5 ounces of chocolate, eaten daily, reduced stress levels in highly strung people, and could even correct biochemical stress imbalances. Chocolate contains valeric acid, which is a relaxant, and the sweet taste activates the opiate like substances in our brain.
Recent studies have shown dark chocolate helps prevent white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels and can help restore flexibility to arteries.