If you’re trying to maintain a heart-healthy diet, eating sweets usually isn’t encouraged. But we have some good news: There’s a loophole to this theory. Dark chocolate may feel like an indulgent treat, but it actually has a plethora of health benefits. You may have heard of some of these benefits, but dark chocolate can offer way more than the basic nutrients publicized. It can be an amazing tool when consumed in proper moderation. Below, take a look at some of the best things
about this tasty treat. Dark chocolate is famous for its incredible delivery of antioxidants; it’s actually in the top 10 sources for dietary antioxidants. Antioxidants are linked to reduction of plaque formation that can block arteries and become dangerous—so you can eat the chocolate, and your body will thank
you. A study published in the American Heart Association’s Circulation Research, indicates consuming the cocoa found in dark chocolate can help to lessen the symptoms of peripheral artery disease (PAD), which limits blood circulation. Patients who ate dark chocolate were able to walk
further and longer due to improved circulation attributed to the sweet treat. Eating dark chocolate is a great way to incorporate more cacao into your diet, which can help to lower your high blood pressure! The flavonoids in dark chocolate have been found to produce nitric oxide, which causes blood vessels to relax and lower
high blood pressure. As long as you mind the amount you consume and consider your intake of fats, sugars, and calories carefully, dark chocolate is a great way to indulge in a sweet treat without messing up your heart-healthy diet. A Finnish study from 2012 indicates chocolate can be closely tied to a lowered risk of stroke. This is exceptionally helpful for those living with
atrial fibrillation (AFib), who are five times more likely to suffer from a stroke than those without AFib, Dark chocolate contains compounds such as polyphenols and
theobromine that can decrease levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the body and increase levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. In layman’s terms, it heightens your “good” cholesterol levels and lowers your “bad cholesterol” levels. Dark
chocolate also contains several anti-inflammatory components that can be immensely beneficial to your overall heart health. A study from 2018 noted that participants who consumed higher levels of dark chocolate consumption had reduced inflammatory biomarkers (among patients with type 2 diabetes). This
indicates a correlation with blood sugar regulation— an important part of a heart-healthy lifestyle that affects blood sugar, muscle exertion, and obesity. Overall, dark chocolate was found to be a beneficial addition for certain diabetic patients. Properly taking care of your heart is an important part of living a long, healthy life—so make sure to exercise and eat a bit
of dark chocolate every now and then. Head to the CVG blog to discover more helpful tips for developing a healthy diet and lifestyle, including our best practices on navigating the pandemic as a heart patient. As if the thought of savoring a square (or a whole bar) of dark chocolate wasn’t enticing enough, dark chocolate’s health claims are pretty appealing too. We’ve heard everything: It lowers blood pressure, relieves stress, improves cognitive function, protects your skin, and more. Check out what experts had to say about how healthy this treat actually is. The health benefits of dark chocolateThere’s been lots of research on dark chocolate, but the hype has outpaced the science. Translation: Eating dark chocolate won’t instantly or directly accomplish any of the above. What is certain is that cocoa is rich in three types of flavonoids—phytochemicals in nearly all plant-based foods that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers. This is important because chronic inflammation is linked to conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic syndrome, asthma, heart disease, and cancer. “These compounds also benefit cardiovascular health by improving blood flow, reducing the risk of clotting, and improving blood pressure levels,” says Whitney Linsenmeyer, Ph.D., R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Cocoa is also rich in iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium, all critical minerals needed for healthy blood, immunity, and cell growth. How much dark chocolate is healthy to eat?There’s no magic quantity of dark chocolate you need to eat to get those flavonoids; the dosage used in studies varies. But experts agree that you should treat it like you would any other piece of candy and consume it in moderation.“It’s best reserved as a treat,” says Young. “Yes, it does
contain antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals, but let’s not call it a health food—it still contains plenty of sugar and fat.” In other words, aim for 1/4 of a full-size bar. How we chose the best dark chocolateWe consulted Linsenmeyer, Lisa R. Young, Ph.D., R.D.N., an adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University and the author of Finally Full, Finally Slim, Keri Gans, M.S., R.D., a New York-based nutrition consultant and author of The Small Change Diet, Scott Keatley, R.D., of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy, read nutrition labels, poured through countless reviews, and did some of our own testing to find the tastiest, healthiest dark chocolate bars. Our top picks
1 Best Dark Chocolate Overall Taza Chocolate Sea Salt and Almond Organic 80% Dark Chocolate 2 Best Value Darl Chocolate 70% Dark Chocolate Bar 3 Best Allergen-Free Dark Chocolate 85% Dark Chocolate Bar, 10-Pack 4 Best Sugar-Free Dark Chocolate Lily's Sweets Extra Dark Chocolate Bar 5 Best Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Pink Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Bar, 3-Pack 6 Best Vegan Dark Chocolate Salty 70% Dark Chocolate Bar 7 Best Over 80% Dark Chocolate 88% Dark Chocolate Bar 8 Best Low-Sugar, Chocolate Bar With Nuts JOJO's Chocolate Dark Chocolate Bars 9 Ghirardelli Chocolate Company Intense Dark 86% Cacao Dark Chocolate 10 K'UL K’ul Organic 70% Dark Chocolate Bar, Wild Ginger & Cayenne 11 Tony's Chocolonely 70% Dark Chocolate Bar 12 Best Energizing Dark Chocolate Antidote Lavender and Red Salt Chocolate 13 Almonds & Sea Salt in Strong Dark Chocolate 14 ChocZero 70% Cocoa Special Vegan Dark Chocolate 15 THEO 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Orange Bar 16 80% Dark Chocolate Bars, 3-Pack How to choose the healthiest chocolate Dig dark chocolate. Grab a bar with 70% cocoa or higher (more cocoa equals more flavonoids). If dark chocolate tastes too bitter for you, dark milk chocolate is a pretty sweet compromise—it has less sugar and more cocoa than traditional milk chocolate, which may have as little as 10%. If it says “milk chocolate” but has a cocoa percentage of 38% or higher, you’ll know it’s dark milk. Read the ingredients. Chocolate, cocoa, or cacao should appear first in the ingredient list, meaning there’s more of it by weight. If sugar is first on the list or you see unfamiliar ingredients, steer clear, says Young. Know your source. Dutch-processed cocoa tends to have a reduced flavonoid content because of how the chocolate is processed, while one recent study found that cocoa beans from Colombia had the highest flavonoid content, likely because of things like plant variety and geography. Alyssa Jung Senior Editor Alyssa is a senior editor for the Hearst Health Newsroom, where she has written research-backed health content for Prevention, Good Housekeeping and Woman's Day since 2017. What kind of dark chocolate is good for blood pressure?It found that dark chocolate, the kind that contains at least 50 to 70 percent cocoa, lowered blood pressure in all participants, but most notably in those with hypertension.
Can I eat dark chocolate if I have high blood pressure?Manage High Blood Pressure
Eating dark chocolate is a great way to incorporate more cacao into your diet, which can help to lower your high blood pressure! The flavonoids in dark chocolate have been found to produce nitric oxide, which causes blood vessels to relax and lower high blood pressure.
Which dark chocolate is healthiest?The healthiest dark chocolate contains a cocoa percentage of 70% or higher, which provides more antioxidants and health benefits.
Which brand of dark chocolate is best?Best Dark Chocolate Bars. Lindt Dark Chocolate (70%). Madécasse Pure Dark Heirloom Chocolate (70%). Mast Dark Chocolate (80%). Scharffen Berger Bittersweet Dark Chocolate (70%). Taza Dark Chocolate 70%. Theo Sea Salt Dark Chocolate (70%). Tony's Chocolonely (70%). Trader Joe's Pound Plus (72%). |
What is the best dark chocolate for high blood pressure
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