Cacao is an incredible superfood with so many health benefits for our body, making chocolate a great addition to your healthy diet.

 One of our partner farmers break the pods to get cacao wet beans 

We’ll let you in on a not-so-secret but often overlooked fact: chocolate is just as healthy as it is delicious! 

You must have been warned before about the implications of too much chocolate to your health - and while this can be true, a healthy relationship with chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can actually bring a lot of health benefits to your body! 

Cacao, the fruit that chocolate is made from, is actually considered as a superfood! It’s classified as such because of its high nutritional value and as a powerful source of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. Specifically, it’s very rich in flavanols, a powerful antioxidant known for its many health benefits. A research by the Chemistry Central Journal [1] even says they found more antioxidant activity in cacao and dark chocolate than any other fruit they tested like blueberries or acai berries.

There are many benefits we can reap from consuming chocolate, most especially dark chocolate due to its higher cacao content. The following are just a few of these health benefits: 

(1) It can improve your mood and mental health 

One of our favorite gifts to the people we care about is chocolate and for a good reason, too! A piece of chocolate can do wonders to enhance one’s mood and reduce stress. This is because eating cacao stimulates the production of endorphins, triggering emotions like happiness. To put things further, there have even been studies that show that it potentially reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety [5]. 

(2) It lowers your blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart disease The antioxidants in cacao have also been found to have good effects for our blood flow. Its flavonoids stimulate the lining of the arteries, producing a chemical that tells arteries to relax, thus improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. 

Another great benefit is that these nutrients in dark chocolate can also reduce the risk of heart disease through its significant reduction in cholesterol levels. Moreover, it also reduces insulin resistance [4]. These are able to reduce the risk factors contributing to heart diseases. 

(3) It improves your digestive health 

Cacao contains fiber that bacteria eat to form fatty acids, stimulating the body’s enzyme that improves digestive function and helps with the absorption of nutrients in the body [3]. 

(4) It is healthy for your brain 

The flavanols in chocolate also improves learning and memory function of the brain along with improving blood flow. Additionally, it also contains brain stimulants like caffeine and theobromine [4]. 

(5) It lowers your risk of diabetes 

Cacao and dark chocolate are also anti-diabetic when consumed in moderation. It specifically lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes as flavanols reduce insulin resistance [2] 

In summary, eating cacao and chocolate can be highly beneficial because it is rich with nutrients that are able to bring various health benefits that are good for both the mind and body. Besides being a great snack, it’s a great addition to a healthy diet.

REFERENCES 

[1] Crozier et. al. (2011). Cacao seeds are a "Super Fruit": A comparative analysis of various fruit powders and products. Retrieved on February 2, 2021, from the Chemistry Central Journal at https://bmcchem.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1752-153X-5-5  

[2] Desideri, G et. al. (2012). Benefits in Cognitive Function, Blood Pressure, and Insulin Resistance Through Cocoa Flavanol Consumption in Elderly Subjects With Mild Cognitive Impairment. Retrieved on February 2, 2021 from Hypertension Journal Vol 60. No 3. at https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/hypertensionaha.112.193060 

[3] Health Benefits of Cacao. (2020, August 19.) Retrieved on February 02, 2021, from Nourish https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-cacao#1 

[4] Gunnars, K. (2018, June 25). 7 proven health benefits of Dark Chocolate. Retrieved on February 2, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate 

[5] UHN Staff. (2020, July 15). The Health Benefits of Chocolate for Your Brain May Include Memory & Mood Improvement. Retrieved on February 2, 2021 from https://universityhealthnews.com/daily/memory/2-chocolate-benefits-for-your-brain-improves-memory-an d-mood/ 

Written by Ira Mendez