Really…I’m not kidding. Now you can eat more chocolate (as if we needed a reason) and improve your health. It turns out there’s even more to love about one of the most decadent, satisfying foods on the planet.
Research shows that cocoa and dark chocolate with a high cocoa content contain flavonoids, a naturally occurring phytonutrient found in plant foods like cocoa, tea, wine, nuts, and certain fruits and vegetables. The main flavonoids found in cocoa — flavan-3-ols and procyanidins — offer a host of cardiovascular benefits, including antioxidant protection and improved blood vessel function. “The flavonoids in chocolate are generally touted for heart health — they make blood less sticky, keep blood vessels flexible, and there’s less plaque formation to prevent heart disease,” says Dawn Jackson Blatner, a Chicago-based registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. In fact, a 2007 study from the University of Nottingham Medical School in the United Kingdom suggested that this improved blood flow may also benefit the brain in terms of memory and learning ability. Flavonoids also help prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood, according to a 2006 study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Further studies show that chocolate can kick a cough, fight cavaties, tame a tummy and save face.
To kick a cough.
Theobromine, a chemical in chocolate, is as effective at soothing coughs as codeine, a key ingredient in many prescription meds.
To fight cavities.
Theobromine may also strengthen teeth better than fluoride, according to Tulane University researchers.
To tame a tummy.
Cocoa contains potent antioxidants that bind to and inhibit a protein in the intestines that causes diarrhea, say scientists at the Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland in California. No wonder it has been used as a remedy since the 16th century.
To save face.
British scientists found that less than an ounce of flavanol-rich chocolate a day may help protect your skin from the harmful effects of UV rays. (Sunscreen is still a must.)