The benefits of dark chocolate are extraordinary for the health of the body

There are various types of chocolate that you can find on the market, from milk chocolate, white chocolate to dark chocolate. Well, did you know that from the three types of chocolate, it turns out that dark chocolate has the most benefits for the health of the body? Starting from the skin to the blood vessels you can get the benefits. Here it is the various benefits of dark chocolate that you can get.

Myriad benefits of dark chocolate for health

1. High in antioxidants

Dark chocolate is high in antioxidant polyphenols, flavanols, and catechins which function to ward off free radicals that cause disease and premature aging.

Your body can be exposed to free radicals from the surrounding environment, such as sun radiation, ozone radiation, cigarette smoke, vehicle fumes, air pollution, industrial chemicals, to the food and drinks you consume every day. Free radicals can cause DNA mutations that lead to various diseases. Starting from arthritis, heart disease, atherosclerosis, stroke, hypertension, stomach ulcers, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, to cancer.

A study shows that the antioxidant content in dark chocolate is higher than blueberries and acai berries.

2. Lowering blood pressure and preventing heart disease

The main benefits of dark chocolate actually come from its flavanol content. In the body, flavonols activate genes in cells to produce nitric oxide. Nitric oxide functions to dilate blood vessels, so that blood flow becomes smoother and eventually blood pressure decreases.

A study published in the journal Jama Network found that consuming one bar of bitter dark chocolate for 18 consecutive weeks can lower blood pressure by up to 18% in people who have hypertension.

The drop in blood pressure from eating dark chocolate helps protect you from the risk of stroke and other heart diseases. In a study published in the journal Heart, it is found that eating dark chocolate can reduce the risk of heart disease by 11 percent and reduce the risk of stroke by 23 percent.

Long-term research in Jama Internal Medicine involving 470 elderly men shows that regular consumption of dark chocolate can reduce the risk of death from heart disease by 50 percent.

3. Prevent diabetes

Increased levels of nitrite dioxide in the body as a benefit of dark chocolate can also help increase the insulin sensitivity response. Insulin sensitivity is what the body needs most to keep blood sugar levels stable and prevent diabetes.

4. Lower cholesterol

Consumption of dark chocolate in the long term and regularly can reduce bad cholesterol by up to 20 percent, so that the risk associated with cardiovascular disease also decreases.

5. Protect the skin from sun radiation

The flavonols in dark chocolate can help prevent skin damage from sun exposure by increasing blood flow in the skin and increasing skin elasticity and moisture.

Research in the Journal of Cosmetic of Dermatology shows the benefits of dark chocolate can counteract the harmful effects of UVB radiation which can cause premature aging of the skin, eye damage (including cataracts), and skin cancer.

6. Sharpen brain function

Another benefit of dark chocolate is to improve cognitive function of the brain, including sharpening memory and logical thinking skills. This is all thanks to its high content of flavonoids.

In a 2012 study, it was shown that dark chocolate can improve cognitive function in older people who have decreased cognitive function.

Other studies have also shown that consumption of dark chocolate which is high in flavanols can help increase blood flow to the brain more smoothly.

7. Satisfied longer

Research from the University of Copenhagen found that eating dark chocolate keeps the stomach full longer and prevents cravings for sweet, salty and fatty foods. So, for people who are losing weight, dark chocolat can be a good snack choice.