7 health benefits of dark chocolate, if eaten in moderation

7 health benefits of dark chocolate

[{"selector":"#anim-c61e008c-9ef0-47cc-a375-428eccc2171b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(25.029296420080684%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec207396-73aa-4ed7-af4d-5e1bb28f7c6c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1e93d4b9-3388-42a4-9d2d-50116290cba0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Dark chocolates offer several health benefits due to its rich cocoa content but should be consumed in moderation. Here are seven benefits of dark chocolate. (Image: Unsplash)

1. Heart Health

[{"selector":"#anim-02347472-d4fc-4857-8fe3-f59006284061","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc8fff40-118c-4b46-820b-074c8ecbd52d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be04e13b-52c4-431b-9730-e81d79b43b6a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8777f32-36b7-4fa0-92c1-f3de947d42ca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ed35fd6-926f-48de-bc68-c91bafe2cf39","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which have been shown to promote heart health by improving blood flow & reducing blood pressure. (Image: Unsplash)

2. Antioxidant-Rich

[{"selector":"#anim-0b145349-e8a6-4faf-92ca-6c674f97a8f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f89d63d6-0a8b-4826-8b53-ff34999b1113","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8fe6f72c-7d12-4510-aaf7-5a64dcb5f54c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dbfd219b-ed7c-4dbd-bc97-a4424b2c469d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a52afff7-7613-4460-bd1f-5efc2796d105 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-25.00967651560675%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Dark chocolate is a potent source of antioxidants which help neutralize free radicals in the body. (Image: Unsplash)

3. Brain Health

[{"selector":"#anim-f97c73f3-d9e2-4afa-8c81-c4c63c2f75a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55cf657f-8a63-42a7-8feb-254a62aff546","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e54992f-1e79-4668-95c6-fcbb8b978471","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4fd62be4-9857-4014-a26e-a81412ce5368","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bdc73b89-d0c4-4c69-ab6c-de112d87693b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] The flavonoids in dark chocolate may have beneficial effects on brain health by improving cognitive function & supporting better blood flow to the brain. (Image: Pexels)

4. Blood Sugar Regulation

[{"selector":"#anim-21c4f118-3014-428e-b188-224d165b4da7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-49d1ec2c-0104-461f-920e-cdb94e72c227","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9d9998f-2f52-4804-81e8-ff553393d7ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d22b8605-b4c1-40a9-bc58-9d8659699f87","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4e3b996-22cf-41c6-9c4d-951ba5fa0f24 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Some studies suggest that dark chocolate may help improve insulin sensitivity, which can aid in managing blood sugar levels. (Image: Pexels)

5. Skin Protection

[{"selector":"#anim-5320d704-d5e9-4df3-9616-b4e1aebe19b3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38098cec-01c1-4665-9b49-eb9fa0ce7621","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd1e330b-17a2-4cbf-84b9-8808cb576d3c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e4b8a7d0-895d-4c61-9197-4d145442ca3d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23b5e504-f11d-46b9-9348-276d8840d911 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-25.00967651560675%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] The antioxidants in dark chocolate may protect the skin against sun-induced damage and improve skin hydration. (Image: Pexels)

6. Weight Management

[{"selector":"#anim-11c19c9a-09c4-43bc-96f7-529a58748d3c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-408bfb44-ef9e-44fe-a295-e926c5e8bc65","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8b2777c-22ed-42e7-8300-bedaf1d20780","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4e59c92-aa1a-474c-a3b6-43af32235188","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-76ecbacb-1417-4933-a6d1-7fa2ae23f766 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-25.00967651560675%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Dark chocolate can satisfy cravings for sweets, leading to reduced overall food intake and aiding in weight management efforts. (Image: Unsplash)

7. Reduced Inflammation

[{"selector":"#anim-6ad3fc8b-e429-42d9-8788-b17ead6215da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64f86e48-a837-4ce1-81fc-515f65bd47ec","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24204026-a7cf-4c44-9117-57f7164922c7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79bf7987-8e76-4260-97bc-72dbb285ad6d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52afc7cc-764c-4f09-8820-d2aa53d59931 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-2.1020505537903413%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] The flavonoids in dark chocolate have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce inflammation in the body. (Image: Pixabay)