Side Effects of Dark Chocolate Excessive consumption of dark chocolate can increase caffeine levels in blood, causing increased heart rate, nausea, dehydration and insomnia. Approximately 30-60 grams of dark chocolate per day is recommended quantity to be healthy.
According to the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, dark chocolate has higher caffeine content than both milk chocolate and white chocolate. Consuming large amounts of dark chocolate can lead to an increased heart rate, diarrhea, anxiety, irritability, nervousness, and dehydration.
And even though quality dark chocolate is a better choice than milk chocolate, it is still chocolate, meaning it's high in calories and saturated fat. To avoid weight gain, Amidor recommends eating no more than 1 ounce (oz) of dark chocolate per day.
You can enjoy dark chocolates as often as you want. However, for a person who wishes to lose weight with these chocolates, dark chocolates should be eaten on an empty stomach or 30 minutes after a solid-food meal. They can also be eaten as a snack between lunch and dinner.
You can eat at least 30g of 70-100% dark chocolate a day. The higher the percentage of cacao, the better.
Health benefits of 100% dark chocolate include the following: Combats the presence of free radicals, which cause chronic illness and disease. Improves the function of the vascular endothelium (the cells that line the insides of your blood vessels) Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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.
Eating chocolate in the morning may help burn body fat, decrease glucose levels, and improved microbiome health, thanks to the flavanol content, according to a new study. Food timing is a relevant factor in weight control.
“So there are mood-enhancing benefits to eating dark chocolate.” In fact, a study published in January 2022 found that participants who ate 85% dark chocolate daily maintained better overall mood than others who ate chocolate with less cocoa — or no chocolate at all.
It is also worth noticing that 100% dark chocolate is the healthiest option among all the sugar-free chocolates on the market. To make their products palatable without sugar, many big chocolate manufacturers use alternatives with lower calories but higher sweetening power.
Dark Chocolate Improves Blood Flow to the Brain
Compounds in dark chocolate boost memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem-solving skills by increasing blood flow to the brain. What is this? The flavonoids in chocolate have been shown to improve blood flow to the brain in young and old alike.
The healthiest dark chocolate contains a cocoa percentage of 70% or higher, which provides more antioxidants and health benefits.
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.
Dark chocolate is particularly beneficial for your gut. It provides fuel and promotes the growth of some of the gut's "good" bacteria.
Dark Chocolate may do wonders in helping one look younger. As per recent studies, it has been worked out that cocoa beans (the main ingredient of real chocolate) have an anti-aging benefit. In fact it is believed that cocoa actually could help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Studies show it can help reduce blood pressure and lower your risk of heart disease. “Eating chocolate is healthy when it is dark chocolate,” says Poulina Uddin, MD, a cardiologist at Scripps Clinic. “Studies show that eating a small amount of dark chocolate regularly can benefit your health.”
The study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association(link opens in new window), found that combining raw almonds, dark chocolate and cocoa significantly reduced the number of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, particles in the blood of overweight and obese people.
Dark chocolate contains potent anti-oxidants which reduce the post-prandial (after-meal) blood pressure in the liver (or portal hypertension) associated with damaged liver blood vessels (endothelial dysfunction).
Theobromine, which increases heart rate and causes sleeplessness, is found in small amounts in chocolate, especially dark. The National Sleep Foundation recommends avoiding chocolate — as well as coffee, tea and soft drinks — before bedtime.
You should try to not eat any chocolate after around 4 or 5 pm to give your body time to metabolize its caffeine. Generally, it's also a good idea to stop eating at least 2 hours before turning in for the night to give your food time to digest.
“Espresso and really dark chocolate goes very well with one another as they enhance and lengthen each other's aftertastes. The same effect also happens when you combine cappuccino with milk chocolate,” Garritt said.
For those chocolate lovers, stick to dark chocolate that is at least 70% cacao to get the most health benefit.
Dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health. Made from the seed of the cacao tree, it's one of the best sources of antioxidants you can find. Studies show that dark chocolate can improve your health and lower the risk of heart disease.
One of the best dark chocolates for magnesium content is Lindt 90 dark chocolate, although most dark chocolates will still offer a good dose. Which dark chocolate has the most magnesium? Dark chocolate can be an excellent source of magnesium for many people, providing as much as 64mg in a 28-gram serving.