When you’re trying to lose weight or eat healthy, it can be hard to find any kinds of sweets you can enjoy. So it’s important to have a few “go-tos” you can keep on hand so that you don’t restrict yourself so much that you go crazy and binge on sweets. Dark chocolate is the answer!
It’s one of the best treats you can turn to, and it comes in a variety of forms. The higher the percentage of cocoa, the greater the nutritional benefits. However, keep in mind, that with the higher percentage, also comes a more bitter flavor, so it may take some getting used to. Here are some amazing health benefits you can take advantage of and still enjoy that delicious treat!
1. Dark Chocolate is Rich in Antioxidants
This is probably the most widely known health benefit of dark chocolate. It’s full of antioxidants and antioxidants are important because they help fight free radicals. Free radicals are byproducts of various cellular functions throughout the body that can lead to disease. Because of its high levels of these antioxidants, namely flavonoids and polyphenols, dark chocolate is therefore also thought to aid in fighting cancer.
2. Dark Chocolate Improves Heart and Brain Function
Dark chocolate also contains flavonoids, called flavanols. Flavanols have an amazing ability to improve blood flow by reducing the clotting ability of platelets found in your blood. This reduces blood pressure, risk of blood clots and strokes and improves overall heart health. With this improved blood flow, there’s more blood and oxygen getting to the brain and consequently, improved cognitive function.
3. Dark Chocolate Improves Overall Cholesterol Levels
The polyphenols we discussed earlier have more than one benefit. They have been known to increase HDL or “good cholesterol” and lower LDL or “bad cholesterol.” These benefits go hand-in-hand with its ability to increase blood flow to make your entire circulatory system function more efficiently.
Healthy Ways to Eat It
There are many, many other benefits of dark chocolate, but lets get right down to the healthiest ways to consume it, because after all, if you’re not actually eating it, the benefits aren’t doing you any good. Now while these health benefits are great, as I mentioned earlier, they increase as the percentage of dark chocolate increases. The opposite is true as well: as you decrease the percentage of cocoa in dark chocolate, the benefits decrease and the fat and sugar content go up. So, be smart about you consume dark chocolate to take advantage of it’s benefits without the negative effects.
Now like I mentioned before, as the percentage of cocoa in dark chocolate increases, the bitterness also increases, so when you’re trying different kinds of dark chocolate, keep this in mind. The more sugary foods you are used to eating will also affect how different percentages will taste to you. For example, if you normally eat a lot of sweets on a daily basis, higher percentages (70-90%) may taste like dirt. But, as you become healthier and start cutting out excess sugar in your diet, your palate will change and you will start to think these higher percentage chocolates taste better.
Side Note: If you just can’t get over a certain percentage because of taste, try other options like Lily’s Sweets Stevia Sweetened Chocolate. That way, you still get the delicious taste without the added sugar.
These are my favorite ways to eat dark chocolate and they won’t make you feel guilty.
1. Chocolate Covered Popcorn
This is probably one of my favorite snacks, let alone ways to eat chocolate. If salty and sweet is your kryptonite, then you definitely have to try this out. Start with air-popped popcorn (if you need a tutorial on how to make this popcorn, check out my recipe), and melt a 70-90% dark chocolate bar and simply drizzle it on top of your popcorn, Yes it’s messy, but it is sooo worth it!
2. Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Who doesn’t love a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie? But why not make something that you can enjoy without feeling bad about it later. These cookies are low-carb, gluten free, low-sugar and completely delicious! Why not make a delicious batch for your next summer party! (Or just your night on the couch). Follow my easy recipe to find out how!
3. Dark Chocolate Bark
This is almost as easy as eating it right out of the bag. chocolate bark is basically just an easy way to eat chocolate and add other amazing healthy benefits. The best part is, you can make it any way you like and experiment with all kinds of new recipes. Check out my favorite way to make it with my Deliciously Easy Dark Chocolate Bark.
Well, there you have it! Did I just make your day by giving you 3 important reasons to regularly consume dark chocolate and 3 amazing ways to enjoy it?! Now, of course remember, everything in moderation, but these treats have so much nutrition packed into them that you don’t have to feel guilty if you overindulge a little!