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Why Eat Dark Chocolate

Ninety-nine out of a hundred people love chocolate, and I honestly get into this statistic considering it a delicious sweet that causes pleasure.

Although eating chocolate for some people could turn into myths and doubts being forbidden not to get fat. That´s why I would like to share delicious and surprising secrets about the ¨benefits of eating dark chocolate¨, and why they can be as healthy as love is.

So, if you want to find out some of these secrets just keep reading!

1. Why dark or pure dark chocolate

I think it is essential to clarify that we are not talking about milk chocolate or white chocolate since it contains more fat and it is sweeter than dark chocolate because it contains more sugar. We are focusing on ¨dark and pure chocolate¨ with a minimum 60% of cocoa content, and if it has 85% of cocoa content or more it would be pure black chocolate. Although, if you are not sure of the amount of cocoa before buying it, I recommend you to look at its content on the label to identify what the chocolate has and ensure it hasn´t got many sugars, additives, or palm oil.

Therefore having ¨fewer sugars and fewer fats¨ is convenient, hence it will bring us more benefits than disadvantages. Then, we can start loving chocolate and enjoy it eating in moderation!

2. Cocoa

Cocoa is a prestigious natural product, and a powerful source of ¨antioxidants, vitamins, and essential minerals¨, known as the main ingredient (or so it should be) of dark or bitter chocolate, which comes from cocoa plants. Although in the production process the proportions of this main ingredient mixed with sugar and other ingredients change the taste of the original raw material from bitter to sweeter.

3. How cocoa is transformed into chocolate

First of all the cocoa is recollected from the plant, and the best beans are selected
The cocoa is broken and the seeds are fermented between 5-7 days and all-natural aromas come out
The grains are dried and the best ones selected would be roasted
Once the grains have been roasted they are peeled and the remained content left is ground and from there the chocolate is obtained
The grinding process to get the cacao liqueur or pasta that once pressed the cocoa butter is extracted that is the liquid part and cocoa cake that is the solid part
The liquor and butter are mixed with some ingredients such as vanilla or sugar to get some sweetness point
The shelling process, when the chocolate is worked for days in the cellars to achieve that soft texture we are looking for
Finally, it´s heated to make it go from liquid to a solid-state, molding it into the well-known shape of a chocolate tablet.

A very elaborate process worth checking out at least once in a lifetime!

4. Benefits of eating dark chocolate

The origin of chocolate goes back to its discovery dating back to 1500 b.c in Central America, where even the Mayans already took it in their rituals as a sacred drink. And fortunately, over time it has been revalued for its spiritual, medicinal, political, and economic character, though we are going to concentrate on the benefits of this ancestral food and why to add it to our daily menu:

4.1 Increases your energy capacity for its high nutritional value, although it´s recommended to eat moderate portions to not exceed the calories recommended. For example, every 100gr of chocolate with 60% cocoa provides:

11 grams of fiber.8 grams of protein
98% of the recommended daily intake of manganese
89% of the recommended daily intake of copper
67% of the recommended daily intake of iron
58% of the recommended daily intake of magnesium/li>
31% of the recommended daily intake of phosphorus
22% of the recommended daily intake of zinc

Whereof we would be talking about eating 1/2 squares of a chocolate tablet. I sign up now!

4.2 It stimulates the central nervous system as it has a bitter-tasting alkaloid called ¨theobromine¨ with a very similar action to that of caffeine.

4.3 The brain organ benefits from chocolate intake as it helps to improve blood flow to the brain, strengthening memory according to an investigation published in the British Journal of Nutrition, which could prevent diseases such as senile dementia or Alzheimer’s by improving cognitive performance

4.4 Increases the livid, especially in women, being a natural aphrodisiac

4.5 It helps the body inhibit free radicals thanks to the number of antioxidants it contains such as flavonoids, polyphenols, and catechins among some

4.6 It helps reduce cardiovascular diseases, as due to its amount of antioxidants improves arterial health and blood circulation stimulating the production of nitric oxide, a compound that relaxes blood vessels to stabilize blood pressure

4.7 It helps improves your skin´s health, as the number of flavonoids it has decreases the impact of free radicals just like the sun’s UV rays

4.8 It is an antidepressant, as it stimulates the production of endorphins, which is the hormone of happiness, plus being a magnificent ally of pleasure containing phenylethylamine, a substance that secretes the brain naturally, and it´s the same as in falling in love.

5. Conclusion

There are more benefits than disadvantages when eating organic dark/pure chocolate, even though many people are reluctant when they are on a diet. Since it´s one of the first eliminated foods, a study conducted by the University of California de San Diego reveals that even though dark chocolate has a high level of calories. It´s good for the metabolism helping to decrease the body mass index accompanied by a healthy lifestyle and consumed in moderation.

Do you need more reasons to prove all its benefits?

Don´t give up such a kind pleasure, my best advice for you is to try to choose organic dark chocolate well, check the chocolate composition, the more cocoa the better ( 60% minimum of cocoa content) together with the ingredients mixed avoiding additives and many sugars, plus remember the recommended amount is 38gr daily.

Adding dark chocolate benefits to your life is a way of loving yourself because LOVE is chocolate!

I hope you enjoyed this article and if you have any questions, you can ask me anytime!

Love always,