7 surprising health benefits of chocolate
There’s no better time than the Easter weekend to indulge in some cocoa goodness – but how many of us feel guilty doing it, even if we eat healthily most of the time?
We’ve taken a closer look at the nutritional studies surrounding our favourite treat, and we have some good news: it can actually boost your health. Take a look at just some of the brilliant benefits from the nation’s favourite food…
The lowdown
Just 100g of chocolate contains all these nutrients:
- 11g of fibre
- 67 per cent of the RDA for iron
- 58 per cent of the RDA for magnesium
- 89 per cent of the RDA for copper
- 98 per cent of the RDA for manganese
- Plus potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium
Two cups a day
The amount of hot chocolate that scientists at Harvard Medical School suggest may help keep the brain healthy and prevent memory decline in older people, thanks to better blood flow.
It keeps your blood sugar stable
Dark chocolate consumption promotes healthy levels of insulin sensitivity, which helps lower blood-glucose levels.
1/3
Consuming chocolate could help lower the risk of developing heart disease by one third, according to research published in the British Medical Journal.
Better than green tea
A cup of cocoa (using pure cocoa powder) has double the antioxidants of green tea.
A bar of happiness
Chocolate boosts levels of dopamine, a natural painkiller, and serotonin, which produces feelings of pleasure. Eat up the love!
The bad news
Chocolate is still high in calories and sugar – so make sure you eat in moderation!
