There aren’t many people on this planet who don’t like it. chocolate. Whether it’s ice cream, cookies, hot chocolate, or just a plain chocolate bar, most of us will jump at the chance to grab a bite.
But what happens to our body if eat chocolate on a regular basis? To find out, we talked to dieticians. Courtney D’Angelo, MS, RDauthor in what a wellnessY Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD in Balance One Supplements about the amazing effects of eating chocolate every day.
It is important to note that not all chocolates are created equal. Cocoa in its natural form is full of antioxidants and healthy nutrients, which is why dark cocoa chocolate is usually healthier than other types that come packaged with added sugar.
Here’s what you need to know if you enjoy a daily bite of chocolate, and for more healthy eating tips, check out Eating Habits to Help Boost Your Metabolism.
Dark chocolate has been found to possibly help improve your heart health due to its powerful antioxidants called flavonoids.
“There are antioxidants in dark chocolate that can increase blood circulation to the heart, reduce the risk of clotting, and have even been shown to lower blood pressure,” says D’Angelo. “That said, a healthy relationship with chocolate could reduce the risks of stroke and heart disease.”
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As if we needed any more excuses to eat chocolatesome research says it can improve your mood.
“If you think about it, eating chocolate almost always improves your mood, and studies have shown that people who ate chocolate reported feeling less stresssays D’Angelo. “Researchers believe it’s because of how chocolate can have a positive impact on heart health, as stress is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.”
However, it’s important to consider not only the amount of chocolate you’re eating, but also the quality. Diets high in added sugars have actually been linked to more cases of anxiety and depressionwhich means that eating low-sugar chocolate like dark chocolatemay be a better option.
this is why This type of chocolate will improve your gut and mood.
While dark chocolate contains many useful nutrients, more processed chocolates like milk or white chocolate can be full of added sugar mostly.
“Certain types of chocolate can be a source of empty calories, meaning your body gets mostly calories and very few vitamins, minerals, or phytonutrients,” says Best. “Empty calorie foods can contribute to weight gain and, when made with added sugars, can also increase cravings. Eating chocolate on a regular basis can create a sugar crash that inevitably leads to mood swings, increased hunger and other possible negative side effects, such as increased blood glucose.”
Fruit can be a great way to get the natural sugars and carbohydrates your body needs, but if you eat chocolate every day, it can throw off your sugar cravings and opportunity for natural sweetness.
“Eating chocolate on a daily basis can prevent you from finding healthier alternatives for your sweet tooth,” says Best. “When you eat added sugar on a regular basis, you can start to lose your taste for true sweetness, like fruit.”
Some research also shows that when you eat processed or added sugar, you’re more likely to form a habit to want more sugar. And many times this is when we reach for more chocolate or candy instead of natural sugars.
“Chocolate contains magnesiumthat has many benefits and is a mineral found naturally in the earth and in the human body,” says Best. “It’s vital for life as it is contained in every cell in the body and is important for carrying out many bodily functions. This mineral is also important for brain health, working not only within the brain for mood and cognitive support, but also outside the brain in blood vessels.”
It is important to note, of course, that the the darker the chocolatethe more nutritional the value and the more magnesium you consume. Milk chocolate may still contain nutrients, but its nutritional value decreases if it’s loaded with added sugars and other processed ingredients.
