Photo by Adobe Stock | Stepanek Photography
Looking for a sweet treat that won’t wreck your diet (or your waistline)? Turn to dark chocolate, which offers a wealth of benefits.
To really treat yourself and your loved ones, indulge in high-quality dark chocolate. You might be surprised to learn that chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa is a good source of fiber, iron, magnesium, and copper and is fairly low in sugar. But the best part is the natural flavonoids—powerful antioxidants that have been shown to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow, which lowers blood pressure. Here are four more benefits:
Reduces inflammation.
Dark chocolate fights free radicals—harmful compounds in the body that can contribute to inflammation and chronic disease.
Possible cancer prevention.
Studies have linked the antioxidants in dark chocolate to be beneficial against colon cancer, possibly due to their ability to reduce oxidative stress, lower inflammation, and block the growth of cancer cells.
Heart health.
In addition to improving blood circulation and reducing blood pressure, flavonoids can help prevent blood platelets from clotting, reducing the risk of stroke.
Better cholesterol profile.
A review of 10 studies revealed that participants who consumed dark chocolate had lower LDL and total cholesterol levels.
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