Dark chocolate may also improve the function of your brain. Studies show that eating high flavanol cocoa can improve blood flow to the brain in young adults. This may explain why eating cocoa daily appears to improve attention, verbal learning, and memory ( 17 ).
Several studies demonstrated evidence of improved brain blood flow, oxygen levels, or nerve function as measured by imaging tests or tests of electrical activity in the brain after the consumption of cocoa drinks.
A Harvard Medical School study found that drinking two cups of hot chocolate rich in flavonoids increased blood flow to the brain for 2-3 hours, which, in turn, improved scores on a working memory speed test by a whopping 30 percent.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation and cognitive function, so it's no surprise that chocolate can immediately boost your mood on a bad day. Studies have shown that those who eat dark chocolate have significantly decreased chances of developing depressive episodes.
Chocolate is especially rich in flavanols like epicatechin and catechin, as well as anthocyanins and phenolic acids. All of these compounds help protect your cells from inflammation, improve your brain function, and boost your immune and cardiovascular health.
What happens if you eat chocolate every day? Chocolate receives a lot of bad press because of its high fat and sugar content. Its consumption could be associated with acne, obesity, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and diabetes.
Dark chocolate is best for you because it's the least processed chocolate, which means it contains the highest percentage of flavonoid-filled cocoa bean (cocoa).
It is a precursor to serotonin, which inspires feeling of happiness. Also present is phenylethlyamine, a type of amphetamine, that "gives you a feeling of contentment … and mimics the effect of being in love," according to Ramadan. Theobromine is a stimulant responsible for the "buzz" you get after eating chocolate.
Chocolate can boost your mood. Once again, researchers have found evidence of mental health benefits from eating chocolate. Though past studies have had conflicting results, the majority point to a positive link between chocolate consumption and a decrease in depressive symptoms or an elevated mood.
In summary, this research shows that 70% cocoa dark chocolate consumption can benefit verbal episodic memory two hours post consumption in healthy young adults relative to a white chocolate control.
While the process of creating cocoa and chocolate can often reduce the flavanol content, flavanol-rich cocoa or chocolate may improve cognitive function for elderly people. The benefits, however, are very small and specific. Whether it can protect against dementia is even less clear.
Thus, eating chocolate can make your blood circulation better, enhance blood flow and improve your circulatory and cardiovascular systems. Drinking hot cocoa can also contribute to your well-being. It can give your brain a boost and clear the fog.
In addition, caffeine has many positive actions on the brain. It can increase alertness and well-being, help concentration, improve mood and limit depression. Caffeine may disturb sleep, but only in sensitive individuals.
According to health experts, food cravings in some cases may be indicators of nutritional deficiencies. This explains why you crave fatty foods and sugary treats while on a diet. As an example, chocolate cravings are often a sign of magnesium deficiency.
Cravings for specific foods could be an indication of a deficiency in a micro or macro nutrient. In particular, a craving for chocolate could highlight a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is an essential mineral and is required for over 300 enzyme reactions in the body.
Scientists also recommend the best time to eat chocolate is earlier in the day (between 9am -11am), making chocolate a great choice for an elevenses pick-me-up, as your palate has not been tainted by other flavours from lunch – something only one in five (20%) of Brits already do.
Cadbury is a premium, high quality brand of chocolate. They do have chocolate with add ins like fruit or nuts, but I prefer the pure chocolate. This is a rich, creamy, absolutely perfect chocolate. If you want to make hot cocoa with milk and a chocolate bar, Cadbury is one of the best brands to do it with.
The recommended “dose” is approximately 1 to 2 ounces or 30-60g, experts say. Indulge in anything more than that, and you may be consuming too many calories. A 1.45-ounce (41 gram) Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Bar has 190 calories.
An apple is a healthier snack because it has more nutritional value than chocolate — and a fraction of the calories. Apples contain vitamins and minerals that are essential to healthy growth and development, as well as brain functioning, heart health, and our bodies' other daily needs.
For those chocolate lovers, stick to dark chocolate that is at least 70% cacao to get the most health benefit.
Lindt dark chocolate is the OG of healthy supermarket desserts – high in heart-friendly flavonoids and low in sugar. The higher the percentage of cocoa the less sweet stuff you'll find in the fine print, with the 85% cocoa option only containing 2.2 grams of sugar per serve.