![]() It contains an abundance of powerful antioxidants that do make it into the bloodstream and protect lipoproteins against oxidative damage ( 3). It makes perfect sense that cocoa lowers oxidation-prone forms of LDL. Oxidation makes the LDL particle itself reactive and capable of damaging other tissues, such as the lining of the arteries in your heart. Some forms of LDL cholesterol are more likely to oxidize, which happens if they react with free radicals in your body. In a small study, eating dark chocolate supplemented with the flavanol lycopene was found to significantly decrease levels of total cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and triglycerides ( 11). Raises HDL and protects LDL from oxidationĬonsuming dark chocolate can improve several important risk factors for heart disease. The bioactive compounds in cocoa may improve blood flow in the arteries and cause a small but statistically significant decrease in blood pressure.Ĥ. Given the great variation between studies on this subject, it’s clear that more research is needed ( 9, 10). It’s possible that people who are already receiving treatment for high blood pressure may not get any additional benefit from adding cocoa flavanols to their diet. However, one study in people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure showed no effect, so take this with a grain of salt ( 8). Many controlled studies show that cocoa and dark chocolate can improve blood flow and lower blood pressure, though the effects are usually mild ( 6, 7). One of the functions of NO is to send signals to the arteries to relax, which lowers the resistance to blood flow and therefore reduces blood pressure. The flavanoids in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium, the lining of arteries, to produce nitric oxide (NO) ( 5). May improve blood flow and lower blood pressure ![]() In fact, they have way more than most other foods.ģ. SummaryĬocoa and dark chocolate have a wide variety of powerful antioxidants. One study showed that cocoa and dark chocolate had more antioxidant activity, polyphenols, and flavanols than any other fruits tested, which included blueberries and acai berries ( 4). According to research, the polyphenols in dark chocolate may help lower some forms of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol when combined with other foods like almonds and cocoa ( 3). These include polyphenols, flavanols and catechins, among others. But experts say there isn’t enough evidence yet to say for certain ( 2).ĭark chocolate is loaded with organic compounds that are biologically active and function as antioxidants. Research in humans does not always show the same range of antioxidant effects for chocolate. But the biological relevance of ORAC values is questioned, as it’s measured in a test tube and may not have the same effect in the body. It’s a measure of the antioxidant activity of foods.īasically, researchers set a bunch of free radicals (bad) against a sample of a food and see how well the antioxidants in the food can disarm the free radicals.īased on these studies, chocolate is considered rich in antioxidants. ORAC stands for oxygen radical absorbance capacity. Quality dark chocolate is rich in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, and a few other minerals. Palmitic acid can raise cholesterol levels, but it only makes up one-third of the total fat calories.ĭark chocolate also contains stimulants like caffeine and theobromine, but it’s unlikely to keep you awake at night, as the amount of caffeine is very small compared with coffee. The stearic acid has a neutral effect on body cholesterol. The fats consist mostly of oleic acid (a heart-healthy fat also found in olive oil), stearic acid, and palmitic acid. The fatty acid profile of cocoa and dark chocolate is also good. These nutrients also come with 600 calories and moderate amounts of sugar.įor this reason, dark chocolate is best consumed in moderation. Of course, 100 grams (3.5 ounces) is a fairly large amount and not something you should be consuming daily. In addition, it has plenty of potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium. It contains a decent amount of soluble fiber and is loaded with minerals.Ī 100-gram bar of dark chocolate with 70–85% cocoa contains ( 1): If you buy quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, then it’s quite nutritious.
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