Chocolate - Hello Health

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For all the chocoholics out there here is a bunch of information to boost their passion for chocolates even more. Chocolates, to be particular the dark chocolates, have a number of health and beauty benefits. So if you maintain a physically active life with regular exercises, there is actually nothing to stop you from having dark chocolates to your hearts content. Dark chocolates include some of the ingredients that can be very good for a healthy physical and mental health. In addition to that, it can also work as an active ingredient in your beauty care regime.
The secret behind the huge list of health and beauty benefits that dark chocolate offers is the cacao content of it, which gives dark chocolates its distinct bitter-sweet taste. Cacao is a bean filled with flavonoids and theobromine which can do wonders for the health and beauty. However, to make cacao more tasty milk, sugar and butter are added in the normal chocolates, which make it high in calorie and less beneficial for the health. So, to get all the best health and beauty benefits of cacao it is important to stick to dark chocolates that have a higher percentage of this magic bean and lower amount of calorie supplying ingredients.  Read on to know the unique health and beauty benefits of dark chocolates,

Dark chocolate promotes better cardiovascular health

According to the latest studies dark chocolates have been found to reduce the risk of heart failure considerably. Taking dark chocolates in specified portions have been found to lower blood pressure and it also reduces the risk of stroke by as much as 39%. Dark chocolates have also been found to be effective in lowering the effects of increased blood pressure during exercising in overweight people. The high flavonoid and anti-oxidant content of dark chocolate is considered to be the reason behind all these miraculous health benefits. These flavonoids and anti-oxidants make the veins and arteries more flexible thus promoting a better cardiovascular health.

Dark chocolate controls blood sugar levels

The flavonoids present in dark chocolates enhance the nitric oxide coverage, which regulates the sensitivity to insulin. These flavonoids reduce insulin resistance of the body cells thus helping in maintaining the normal insulin balance in body. Dark chocolates are also believed to offer protection from the Type 2 diabetes and can be a healthy food for pre-diabetic people when consumed in proper portions.

Dark chocolate improves brain activity

Some studies suggest that consuming dark chocolate can enhance the cognitive functions of the brain. The constituents of cocoa can be helpful for better functioning of brain in elderly people. Dark chocolates also contain caffeine in a lesser amount which can have a mild stimulating effect on the brain. The theobromine content of cocoa can also be a key reason for the short term enhancement in brain functioning offered by eating dark chocolates.

Dark chocolate enhances mood

You know why you always crave more for chocolates when you are down? Simply because, chocolates can work as a great mood enhancer; dark chocolates contain serotonin which can increase endorphin production in the brain. Endorphin is the feel good hormone of the body; so, if you are going through a phase of mental stress, grab a bar of dark chocolate as often as you can and do not forget to combine it with exercises to get back your best mood.

Dark chocolate – a source of nutrients

The cocoa of dark chocolates has high mineral contents. It includes Manganese, Copper, Iron and Magnesium in high amounts, along with potassium, phosphorous and zinc in trace amounts. Cocoa is also high in fiber content and hence, a piece of good quality dark chocolate that has 70-99% of cocoa in it is actually a good source of nutrients for the body.

Dark chocolate helps in weight management

Dark chocolate is most probably the only way of weight management that every one is sure to love. Due to their high fiber and mineral content even a small piece of dark chocolate can fill your hunger and food cravings. The MUFAs along with the LDLs present in the dark chocolate can also help in increasing the rate of metabolism of the body thus assisting in managing body weight more efficiently.
Having said all about the health benefits of dark chocolates now let us move to the beauty benefits of these magic bars. You must have already heard about the famous chocolate facial and now we will tell you why dark chocolate is considered as one of the most effective and side- effect free ingredients for skin care.

Dark chocolate to fight skin aging

Signs of aging on the skin are one of the most common woes of all. This is a reason that has fueled the demand of anti-aging creams amongst people of every age. According to studies, dark chocolate can give you the same anti-aging affects.  Dark chocolate is loaded with a bunch of active anti-oxidants like flavonoids, catechins, polyphenols and others, which can eliminate the effects of free radicals on the skin helping it to regenerate and maintain its natural elasticity. Dark chocolate improves blood circulation on the skin helping it to retain moisture. The anti-oxidant content in dark chocolate is higher than many of the anti-oxidant rich fruits and it makes a completely side-effect free skin care option.

Dark chocolate protects the skin from UV rays

The damaging effects of the Ultra Violet rays of the sun on the skin is considered as one of the primary reasons of skin aging, wrinkle formation and even skin cancer. Dark chocolate has been found to reduce the effects of the UV rays on the skin. Most probably it is the flavonoids of cocoa that gives dark chocolate this miraculous ability.

Soothes the skin

The rich mineral content of cocoa gives dark chocolate natural anti-inflammatory properties, which help in fighting skin infections and reducing any inflammation caused by skin infections. So, dark chocolates can actually give your skin an all-round benefit without any side effects of chemical loaded products.
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