Why you shouldn’t feel guilty about eating chocolate

Chocolate is known for being creamy, rich, decadent and, healthy? While this sweet treat is commonly considered a guilty pleasure, research shows that chocolate actually offers multiple health benefits. Here are some of the things that chocolate can do for you and your body.

Improves cognitive function

Dark chocolate is rich in the phytonutrient flavonol, which may help contribute to “…improved reaction time, visuospatial awareness, and stronger memory,” according to Medicine John Hopkins. Harvard Medical School backed up these findings, citing a revision published in the May 2017 issue of the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, which found evidence of “improved cerebral blood flow, oxygen levels, or nerve function” after people in the study drank cocoa beverages such as hot chocolate.

Increases sports performance

Chocolate and the gym might sound like a recipe for disaster, but some research suggests the opposite may be true. According to findings published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, eating a small amount of dark chocolate can increase oxygen availability during your workouts Today’s medical news. Once again, you have the flavanols in cocoa to thank.

Protects the skin from sun damage.

Goodbye sunscreen, hello Hershey’s? Dark chocolate helps protect skin thanks to its antioxidants, which work to “neutralize free radical damage caused by sun exposure,” reported skincare brand Paula’s Choice in its place. A to study published in the National Library of Medicine showed that the photoprotection of 30 subjects more than doubled after consuming chocolate high in flavonoids every day for three months.

It helps control weight

While eating chocolate every day seems like the exact opposite of maintaining a healthy weight, “research suggests that dark chocolate may play a role in appetite control, which in turn may help with weightloss,” reports daily health. Neuroscientist Will Clower discovered that eating a bit of dark chocolate before or after meals can help activate hormones that show your brain that you’re full. Consuming large amounts of chocolate will likely counteract any weight loss, but nibbling a little here and there can help.

May play a role in cancer prevention

According to the American Cancer SocietyChocolate is full of ingredients that have cancer-fighting properties. The two that are most beneficial are magnesium and a flavonoid called epicatechin. According to daily health“a study published in January 2022 in the journal Cell found that the body’s immune cells can attack abnormal or infected cells only in a magnesium-rich environment.” Another study published in National Library of Medicine found that epicatechin’s antioxidant properties resulted in its “anticancer effect” in the body. However, not all chocolate is created equal, so check the nutrition label and make sure you’re consuming high-quality chocolate to enjoy all of its benefits.