Ever have a craving to dip into a delicious box of chocolates?  Ever felt that a little chocolate might be just the thing right now?  Well, it isn’t surprising at all!  Eating chocolates is one way of bringing out feelings of relaxation and a natural sense of well being. Aside from those reasons, chocolates have have also been found to have health benefits such as lowering cholesterol and introducing antioxidants to the body. The best kind of chocolate with the highest amount of rich nutritional value to promote good health is dark chocolate.

Why is dark chocolate healthy? Compared to milk chocolate, dark chocolates have more cacao which is the key component in the obtaining the health benefits.  It also has less sugar, and no milk ingredient. This is the reason why dark chocolate is also called plain chocolate.

The health benefits of dark chocolate may well replace the advantage of eating apples everyday. According to a study, eating 1.6-ounce of dark chocolate daily will be good for your health.

It also contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables! 

This is because like dark vegetables it is made from plants.  Cocoa beans are actually seeds inside the fruit of the cocoa tree and these seeds contain flavonoids, pigments found in plants which act as antioxidants.The darker the chocolate the richer it is in flavonoids.

The flavonoids found in dark chocolates is believed to contain more antioxidants than a number of other fruits such as strawberries

Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

• The potential to lower blood pressure.
• Improved blood circulation
• Lower levels of heart disease
• Improved function of the cells which line the blood vessels
• The ability to defend the body against the destructive molecules known as free radicals. These free radicals are thought to help trigger serious diseases such as heart disease, stroke and even some forms of cancer.
• Promotion of good digestion and appetite
• The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.
• The flavanoids in chocolate may help keep blood vessels elastic
• Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.
• As you may have heard a lot of times, there are claims that people feel happy after eating chocolate. Dark chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins, serotonin and other nerves and chemicals in the brain giving a feeling of euphoria. The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.
• The saturated fat found in dark chocolate is a form of stearic acid, this type of saturated fat has been shown to have a neutral effect on cholesterol. 
• Recent studies show that it slows down decline of brain activity due to age,
• Indications that it aids in treating anemia and kidney stones  
• Most heart attacks and many strokes are caused by blood clots that form in critical arteries. Researchers in Switzerland and the United States found that dark chocolate reduces platelet activation, a step in clot formation.

Some more information on Dark chocolate

There are certain things to look for when buying dark chocolate:

• Make sure it is 70% cocoa or more and is made from cocoa butter not fats such as palm and coconut oils.  They are all saturated fats, but cocoa butter has a neutral effect on cholesterol levels, while palm oil and coconut oil can raise blood cholesterol.
• Does not contain milk fat.
• Does not contain soy.

For some, eating dark chocolate is as pleasurable an experience as kissing! Aside from the natural high it brings, it also assists you in promoting good health if eaten in a specific amount of daily dark chocolate. Daily small doses of dark chocolate included in a balanced diet and regular exercise can make for a healthier you. It is possible that the health benefits of dark chocolate may surpass those of some other fruits and vegetables while also giving the added benefit from giving you warm feeling inside out.  So enjoy!  Chocolate can be a part of your life and you don’t have to go overboard – A little a day just might keep the doctor away!