Cacao is the raw bean that comes from the Theobroma cacao tree. Chocolate is made from cacao. This is a plant that is rich in minerals and anti-oxidants. Dark chocolate is particularly rich in minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. The benefits of dark chocolate are many it has flavonoids which is an antioxidant that is excellent for health.

Commercial milk chocolate contains cocoa butter, sugar, milk, and small quantities of cacao. In contrast, dark chocolate has much larger amounts of cacao and less sugar than milk chocolate. The benefits of dark chocolate revolve around nutritional content. It is also important to know the risks and a consideration when we eat dark chocolate says Yash Birla.

Dark chocolate can improve your health and lower the risk of heart disease. It also has a good amount of soluble fibre and is also loaded with minerals like iron, magnesium, copper and manganese. Besides these, it also has potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium. These nutrients also come with some calories and moderate amounts of sugar.

For this reason, dark chocolate is best consumed in moderation.

Yash Birla says quality dark chocolate is rich in fibre, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, and a few other minerals.

Dark chocolate is loaded with biologically active organic compounds and functions as antioxidants. These include polyphenols, flavanols and catechins, among others. One study showed that cocoa and dark chocolate had more antioxidant activity, polyphenols, and flavanols than any other fruits tested, which included blueberries and acai berries.

The benefits of Dark Chocolate improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. The bioactive compounds in cocoa may improve blood flow in the arteries and cause a small but statistically significant decrease in blood pressure. Consuming dark chocolate can improve several important risk factors for heart disease. The flavanols in dark chocolate can also reduce insulin resistance, which is another common risk factor for diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

There is considerable evidence that cocoa can provide powerful health benefits, being especially protective against heart disease. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should go all out and consume lots of chocolate every day. It’s still loaded with calories and easy to overeat. Maybe have a square or two after dinner and try to savour them. If you want the benefits of cocoa without the calories in chocolate, consider making hot cocoa without any cream or sugar. Also, note that a lot of the chocolate on the market is not nutritious. Dark chocolates typically contain some sugar, but the amounts are usually small and the darker the chocolate, the less sugar it will contain. Chocolate is one of the few foods that taste awesome while providing significant health benefits.