Dark Chocolate is made up of cocoa which is high in antioxidants and minerals. Cocao is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids. Flavonoids help in reducing the risk of cancer, heart problems, respiratory diseases, and Stroke. It also helps to boost your memory.
Now, the question arises how much percentage of dark chocolate is healthy? and how many squares of dark chocolate per day?
So, Dark Chocolate with 70% or higher is the healthier one. Consuming daily 70% chocolate health benefits include glowing skin and healthy hair.
Experts recommend 1 ounce i.e 1 Square of dark chocolate a day is the healthy to eat.
Minerals present in Cocoa helps for the growth of cells providing proper nutrients and also helps in blood circulation. This blood flow to the skin and scalp provides proper nourishments which leads to healthy and beautiful hairs. It also helps in reducing hair loss.
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It also helps in providing moisture to the skin which acts as a barrier for acne and protects it from UV rays and wrinkles.
The lower the percentage of cocoa higher the percentage of sugar and healthy fat. Compared to milk chocolate quality dark chocolate is always the best option.
And I still remember the day when I started my gym and gone on a perfect diet. But being a sweet lover it was hard for me to stop my craving then my brother recommends me to have dark chocolate.
Initially, I was not able to have it due to its bitter taste but later it’s my favorite one and I am so addicted to it.
- alter eco dark blackout organic chocolate
- HU dark CHOCOLATE BAR
- lindt excellence 99 cocoa dark chocolate bar
- ghirardelli dark chocolate 86%
- lily’s sweets 70% extra dark chocolate
- taza chocolate bar
- green and black 70% dark chocolate
- trader joe’s organic 72% belgian dark chocolate bar
- endangered species dark chocolate 88%
What is the healthiest dark chocolate?
There are multiple types of chocolate white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate amongst which dark chocolate is the most healthy chocolate as it is rich in antioxidants and minerals.
Here, are the Top 9 picks of Dark Chocolate from the best brands:
| Image | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Alter Eco Dark Chocolate
| Price |
 | HU Dark Chocolate Bar
| Price |
 | Lindt Excellence 99 Dark Chocolate
| Price |
 | Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate
| Price |
 | Lily’s Sweets Chocolate Bar
| Price |
 | Taza Dark Chocolate
| Price |
 | Green And Black’s Dark Chocolate
| Price |
 | Trader Joe’s Belgian Dark Chocolate Bar
| Price |
 | Endangered Species 88 Dark Chocolate
| Price |
What nutrients are in dark chocolate?
Table of Contents
Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants and minerals. Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants called flavonoids as it is made from Cocao. It is also high in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, and some other minerals.
The dark chocolate nutritional value consists of:
- Fiber: 11 grams
- Copper: 89% of the RDI
- Manganese: 98% of the RDI
- Iron: 67% of the RDI
- Magnesium: 58% of the RDI
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Zinc and Selenium
How many calories in dark chocolate?
Dark Chocolate Nutrition Facts (70%) :
| Serving size | 100grams |
| Dark Chocolate Calories | 566 calories |
| Total fat | 41g |
| Saturated fat | 24g |
| Sodium | 0mg |
| Carbohydrates | 34g |
| Protein | 9.5g |
What are the health benefits of eating dark chocolate?
The dark chocolate benefits are as follows:
- Reduce Heart Disease risk:
The presence of antioxidants such as flavonoids in dark chocolate reduces heart disease risk. It affects two major risk factors High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol.
Flavonoids excite nitric oxide generation in the body. That improves blood flow and lowers blood pressure.
- Improves brain functions:
Diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s can be prevented by having dark chocolate.
Flavonoids present in dark chocolate enhance your brain’s functions. All the health benefits came from the flavonoids present in dark chocolate.
Polyphenols and Theobromine compounds in dark chocolate help to lower levels of low-density lipoprotein LDL cholesterol and improves levels of high-density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol. As per the doctors, LDL cholesterol is bad for health while HDL cholesterol is good.
- Inflammation :
To reduce the inflammation of the body, one must start having a bar of dark chocolate. It contains compounds having anti-inflammation properties.
Do you know? Chronic Inflammation can damage cells and tissues that may lead to diseases such as type2 diabetes, cancer, and arthritis.
- Risks and consideration:
For every manufacturer, the flavonoids content differs. So always go with the chocolate having maximum cocoa in it.
It also contains antioxidants and minerals but it is also high in sugar and fat. To get health benefits, one must always check the nutritional value of dark chocolate.
Remember though it is healthy it should have in moderation because it can also lead to weight gain because of black chocolate calories.
But then dark chocolates plays a good role over these above myths. Now the question arises.
Q. What is the best dark chocolate to eat?
It is proven that chocolates with a cocoa of 70% or higher are the healthiest but being a sweets loving person, I would recommend you a range from 60-80 percent of cocoa in it.
Though it contains sugar, is it good for our health
Yes, because of dark chocolate healthy nutrition as they are a rich source of antioxidants and minerals, added on, the sugar content is also less than ordinary chocolate.
Q. How much dark chocolate should you eat a day?
Whatever you eat, it should be taken in moderation. 30-60g is recommended. As calories in chocolates are high and caffeine is also present in dark chocolate. Eating large amounts might cause side effects such as nervousness, sleeplessness, constipation, etc.
Q. How many carbs in dark chocolate?
While choosing dark chocolate you must choose dark chocolate that contains a minimum of 70 percent cocoa solids or rather more.
100 grams of Dark chocolate (70%) contains 34 grams of carbohydrates.
Q. What are the benefits of dark chocolate for skin?
We always wondered that what is good for our skin. When it comes to chocolates, many myths are revolving around such as chocolate causes acne, lacks health benefits, causes weight gain.
Yes, Studies show that dietary flavanols from cocoa offer photoprotection and improve dermal blood circulation. Dark chocolate makes an excellent skin-detoxifier in combination with caffeine, hence provides nourishment to our skin.
Q. What are the benefits of dark chocolate for hair?
Being rich in cocoa, contains proanthocyanidins, compounds that were identified to improve hair growth.
Proanthocyanidins in mice were found to produce the anagen stage of hair growth. Anagen is the actual extension phase of hair follicles where the hair root distributes rapidly, adding to the hair shaft.
Q. Is dark chocolate vegan friendly?
Regular and dark chocolate contains animal products, Mainly milk chocolate and white chocolate has a large amount of dairy. Still finding a bar of vegan dark chocolate is quite easier.
The simplest way to determine vegan dark chocolate is to check for a vegan label on the front.
Usually, Most dark chocolates are not vegan as its made from milk, milk fat, natural flavor, and additional ingredients. So, you should always buy one with vegan labels.
Q. Why is dark chocolate good for you?
Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants and minerals high in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, Potassium, Phosphorus, Zinc, and Selenium that provide multiple health benefits such as Reduce Inflammation, and Heart Disease risk.
The flavonoids present in dark chocolate helps to enhance your brain’s functioning.
It contains a compound called proanthocyanidins that are found to promote hair growth. flavanols from cocoa give photoprotection and enhance dermal blood circulation and act as skin-detoxifier.
Conclusion:
Having dark chocolate in a day contributes to our health by providing antioxidants and minerals.
According to the dark chocolate nutritional information always consume between 70% -90% cocoa dark chocolate for leveraging its health benefits.
Note: Take Dark Chocolate in moderation as excess use of anything takes us into danger otherwise it may also lead to weight gain.
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