Calling all chocolate lovers! It’s always been speculated that dark chocolate is “healthy”, but what actual merit does this claim have? As it turns out, there is some real validity to this notion. Just as a glass of red wine can improve overall health, dark chocolate – in moderation – has positive effects on the heart, mind and body.
The next time you want to satisfy your sweet tooth (and not feel guilty about it!) try grabbing a dark chocolate treat. Chocolate containing 70% cacao or higher is rich in antioxidants and has been found to lower blood pressure, improve cognitive function and benefit health in numerous other ways.
Offices everywhere should have a stash of dark chocolate for their employees for the awesome benefits it has on human brain function. In the short term, studies have found that in the hours after consuming dark chocolate with high flavanol content, memory and reaction time was improved.
Need a yummy snack to stock in your office? Break up some fair-trade, organic Nibmor ‘Daily Dose of Dark’ Chocolate to put in your cereal in the morning and start the workday off the right way.
We all know chocolate and smiles go hand in hand – but there is a scientific reason for this, besides it being delicious! Numerous naturally-occurring chemicals in chocolate release neurotransmitters that positively affect the human brain and emotions.
One essential amino acid found in chocolate is called tryptophan, which is responsible for releasing the neurotransmitter serotonin into the brain. Serotonin is most commonly known for being a mood lifter.
Another component of dark chocolate is the fat, anandamide – which comes from the Sanskrit word for bliss, joy, or happiness! Anandamide leads to the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is known to cause intense feelings of well-being.
Consuming dark chocolate also releases endorphins, the same molecules released during a long run, into the brain that give you a sense of euphoria. Endorphins are known to reduce pain and decrease stress levels.
Long story short, all of these scientific terms really just mean that eating dark chocolate is good for your mental health and makes you happy! Nespresso Dark Chocolate Squares are a luxurious and smooth chocolate treat, perfectly paired with an afternoon cup of joe – a surefire way to keep you happy at work.
I know what you might be thinking, “a lot of foods make me happy, but it doesn’t mean they’re good for my health!” This may be true for some foods, but the good news is dark chocolate consumed in moderation has been linked to improved heart health. Numerous studies have found that dark chocolate intake can result in a healthier ticker – it can lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to the heart and brain, and even reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke.
This can all be attributed to the magnificent antioxidant flavonoids. Flavanols are the main type of flavonoid in dark chocolate and they are known to improve heart circulation. Dark chocolate with over 70% cacao is rich in flavanols – so go ahead, take a break, and have a bite of your favorite sweet snack (guilt free!).
Snacking on dark chocolate here and there can also lead to weight loss. “Alright,” you say out loud to your computer, “how the hell can indulging in chocolate make me lose weight?”
Well, I’m glad you asked. Of course, eating chocolate isn’t going to make you shed pounds like you would on the treadmill at the gym. However, the effects that dark chocolate has on the mind and heart, scientifically speaking, can result in weight loss.
Dark chocolate helps control your appetite by providing about 16% of your daily fiber intake (per 3.5 oz bar). Fiber is the carbohydrate that gives your body that “I’m full” feeling, helping you eat less. Try our Dark Chocolate Almonds for an excellent source of protein and fiber, coated in delicious dark chocolate.
The flavanols we talked about earlier also help lower blood sugar and decrease body fat. Dark chocolate is richer in flavanols than milk chocolate, and also doesn’t contain the added sugar and syrups found in milk chocolate, which makes it a sweet treat that may keep you from gaining a little extra weight.
As mentioned earlier, dark chocolate has a positive impact on mood and stress levels. That being said, one of the unfortunate results of stress is increased appetite. We all know the feeling of being so stressed out that you dig into a carton of ice cream or eat an entire bag of chips to keep from ripping your hair out.
That’s where our friends endorphins come in. With a square of dark chocolate every now and then, endorphins are released into the brain to help you stress less – and eat less!
All health benefits aside, this doesn’t mean consuming large amounts of dark chocolate is healthy. It’s all about moderation, my friends. But now you have an excuse to indulge a little bit, without the guilt!
