World Chocolate Day: 10 Health Reasons why you should be having more chocolate

Chocolate has and always will be the ultimate comfort food. When you’re having those days when all you want to do is curl up in your bed and binge watch your favourite TV show, a bucket of chocolate ice cream or a bar of chocolate is your best friend. It’s often been called a guilty pleasure because of course, you feel guilty right after you stuff your face with all that chocolate. But is that tag for your best friend justified? 

While chowing down tons of chocolate might not be good for you, a regulated amount of chocolate especially dark chocolate has been found to actually be really good for you. Lets take a look at why chocolate could be a part of your new health diet! 

1. Chocolate reduces risk of stroke 

Studies conducted in Finland have found that chocolate reduces risk of stroke. By how much? A staggering 17 percent. 

2. Chocolate is good for the heart 

Not just a broken heart but dark chocolate helps restore flexibility to arteries while also preventing white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels – both common causes of artery clogging.

3. Chocolate can help reduce cholesterol 

Consumption of cocoa can help reduce bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol 

4. Chocolate is good for mothers and babies

A Finnish study found that chocolate reduced stress in expectant mothers, and that the babies of such mothers smiled more often than the offspring of non-chocolate-eating parents.

5. Chocolate is good for your skin 

You might still need that sun cream though!

6. Chocolate can help you lose weight 

Really. We aren’t kidding. This doesn’t mean you get to eat bucket loads of chocolate but euroscientist Will Clower says a small square of good choc melted on the tongue 20 minutes before a meal triggers the hormones in the brain that say “I’m full”, cutting the amount of food you subsequently consume. Finishing a meal with the same small trigger could reduce subsequent snacking.

7. Chocolate is rich in minerals 

Dark chocolate has high content of potassium, zinc, selenium and iron. 

8. Chocolate may prevent diabetes 

We know this sounds crazy but dark chocolate has been found to increase insulin sensitivity which means it can help to delay onset of diabetes. 

9. Chocolate gives you the feels 

Chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), which is the same chemical that your brain creates when you feel like you’re falling in love. PEA encourages your brain to release feel-good endorphins.

10. Chocolate is good for the brain 

Chocolate is known to help memory loss and even in a concussion!