Did you know that every time you treat yourself to a chunk of dark chocolate, you’re also treating your heart? That’s right, dark chocolate helps your arteries relax, which in turn keeps your heart healthier. So the next time you indulge, remember you’re doing your body good!
Researchers have found that dark chocolate can make arteries more flexible and discourage white blood cells from sticking to blood vessel walls. Both of these effects can decrease your chances of developing atherosclerosis and hardening of the arteries. So, what’s so special about dark chocolate that makes it good for your heart?
The Power of Flavonoids
The heart-healthy benefits of dark chocolate come from flavonoids, which are natural chemicals found in cocoa. More specifically, it’s the catechins and procyanidins in flavonoids that contribute the most to chocolate’s healthy side, as they have strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vascular protective properties. Antioxidants in dark chocolate help protect your cells from free radicals that can cause damage to your heart and other organs, while anti-inflammatory properties reduce inflammation, which is a significant factor in heart disease.
How Dark Chocolate Benefits Your Heart
Consuming dark chocolate has been associated with various benefits for your cardiovascular system. Here are some of the main ways it keeps your heart healthy:
1. Improved Artery Flexibility
The flavonoids in dark chocolate help to improve the flexibility of your arteries. When your arteries are flexible, they can expand and contract smoothly, allowing blood to flow freely and reducing strain on your heart. This can help to lower your risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
2. Anti-atherosclerotic Effects
Atherosclerosis is a condition where plaque (fatty deposits) build up in your arteries, narrowing them and restricting blood flow. The flavonoids in dark chocolate can help to prevent white blood cells from sticking to blood vessel walls, reducing the formation of plaque and lowering your risk of atherosclerosis.
3. Lower Blood Pressure
Dark chocolate has been shown to help lower high blood pressure. This is mainly due to flavonoids in chocolate stimulating the production of nitric oxide, a naturally occurring compound that helps blood vessels relax and dilate, thus lowering blood pressure.
4. Decreased LDL Cholesterol Oxidation
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is often referred to as “bad cholesterol” because it contributes to plaque buildup in arteries. The antioxidants in dark chocolate help to prevent LDL cholesterol from oxidizing (reacting with free radicals), which reduces the amount of damage that LDL cholesterol can do to your arteries.
How Much Dark Chocolate Should You Eat?
Although dark chocolate has heart health benefits, not all dark chocolates are created equal. Make sure to choose a high-quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content, as it will have higher levels of flavonoids. Keep in mind that dark chocolate still contains fats, sugar, and calories, so eating it in moderation is essential. Aim for about one ounce (28g) per day for optimal heart benefits without overconsuming calories and fat.
Dark Chocolate: A Delicious Antidote to Heart Disease
As we’ve seen, there’s no need to feel guilty when enjoying a square of dark chocolate now and then. It’s a tasty and simple way to give your heart a healthy boost. Of course, it’s important to remember that it isn’t a magic cure-all, and you still need to maintain an overall healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and regular exercise.
Dark chocolate’s heart-healthy benefits show promise for the development of new therapies. As Gerald Weissmann, M.D., editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal, says, “The effect that dark chocolate has on our bodies is encouraging not only because it allows us to indulge with less guilt, but also because it could lead the way to therapies that do the same thing as dark chocolate but with better and more consistent results.” So, the next time you enjoy a piece of dark chocolate, remember that you’re making both your taste buds and your heart happy!
