Dark chocolate contains flavanols that promote vascular health.
Research has shown that dark chocolate contains certain compounds that promote heart health. Not all dark chocolates are created equal. Know what to look for so you can reap all the benefits of this deliciously decadent food.
Types
Minimally processed dark chocolate and cocoa powder that has not been processed with alkali are the healthiest chocolate products because they contain flavanols, the specific flavonoids found in cocoa. White chocolate, milk chocolate, and even dark chocolate consumed with milk do not provide significant health benefits. European dark chocolates tend to have higher concentrations of flavanols than American chocolates.
Benefits
Flavanols are antioxidants in dark chocolate and cocoa that seek out and destroy free radicals in the body. When the body does not have adequate antioxidants, free radicals cause damage that can lead to high LDL cholesterol and heart disease. According to the Cleveland Clinic, flavanols also benefit vascular health by lowering blood pressure, lowering blood cholesterol, improving circulation to the heart and brain and making blood platelets less likely to stick together and form clots.
Concentration
When it comes to eating chocolate for health benefits, darker is better. "Runner's World" suggests selecting dark chocolate with no less than 35 percent cocoa for maximum health benefits. A higher percentage of cocoa usually means a higher percentage of flavanols in the product.
Considerations
Roasting, fermenting and alkalization, also known as Dutch processing of chocolate, destroys the flavanols in cocoa. The more chocolate is processed, the more flavanols are lost. According to Mauro Serafini, Ph.D., of Italy's National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome, milk interferes with the absorption of antioxidants and may cancel out the potential health benefits of dark chocolate.
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