Indulge a bit: Dark chocolate can make you happier and healthier.
We have good news for you today. Feel free to indulge and have some chocolate!
You are okay to indulge not just on Valentine’s Day, but feel free to have just a little bit (…1-2 squares of chocolate that contains 70% or more cocoa) any day.
Because more studies are showing that dark chocolate can make you happier and healthier!
Dark chocolate may improve your mood and cognitive health.
Eating chocolate makes you feel good. This is, in part, due to the combination of tryptophan,
Chocolate also releases endorphins that act as natural pain and stress relief. After just a few squares of dark chocolate, your body is flooding with happiness hormones like serotonin; the feeling has been compared to euphoria.
Many of the compounds in dark chocolate have been shown to improve brain function. Chocolate can improve blood flow to your brain and can even improve your memory, lowering your risk for stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. And you don’t have to feel bad about a little indulgence, because:
Chocolate is good for your body, too!
Eating a few squares of dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa!) after dinner can help your body rid itself of environmental toxins – unprocessed cocoa beans have some of the highest quantities of antioxidants of any known foods, and those good qualities have been passed down to dark chocolate.
It also makes your heart happy – chocolate can lower cholesterol and improve blood flow and pressure, with a corresponding decrease in the likelihood of heart disease. In one study, cocoa was found to reduce heart disease by 50% over a 15-year period – which makes it well worth eating.
Dark chocolate can even protect your skin from the sun – the high flavonoid content supports the creation of enzymes that can combat UV lights and preserve the skin
Enjoy yourself this Valentine’s Day and have some heart- and mind-rejuvenating flavonoids and antioxidants in a favorite treat.
