Health benefits of dark chocolate
Dark chocolate is rich in cocoa solids and is a natural antioxidant. Antioxidants can help resist the damage of free radicals, thus protecting cells from damage. In addition, dark chocolate contains some nutrients, such as magnesium, iron, zinc and copper. These nutrients have many health benefits, including:
1. Improve cardiovascular health: Dark chocolate helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
2. Reduce inflammation: Antioxidants in dark chocolate can help reduce inflammation, thus reducing pain and discomfort.
3. Improve mood: The chemicals in dark chocolate can stimulate the brain to release chemicals such as dopamine and endorphins, thus improving mood and mood.
How to choose dark chocolate
Although dark chocolate has many health benefits, not all dark chocolate is healthy. When choosing dark chocolate, you should pay attention to the following points:
1. Cocoa content: The higher the cocoa content of dark chocolate, the more antioxidants and nutrients it contains. Therefore, it is wise to choose dark chocolate with cocoa content above 70%.
2. Sugar content: Many dark chocolates contain a lot of sugar and other additives, which will reduce the health benefits of dark chocolate. Therefore, choosing low-sugar dark chocolate without additives is a better choice.
3. Source: It is a better choice to choose dark chocolate made of sustainably planted cocoa beans. These cocoa beans do not use pesticides and fertilizers, which are good for the environment and health.
How to eat dark chocolate
Although dark chocolate has many health benefits, it should not be eaten in excess. It is recommended to eat about 30 grams of dark chocolate every day, so that you can get health benefits without adding extra sugar and calories.
When eating dark chocolate, you can try the following methods:
1. Eat directly: Cut the dark chocolate into small pieces and eat directly.
2. Baking: Add dark chocolate to baked goods such as cakes and biscuits to increase the taste and nutrients of the food.
3. Making tea: grinding dark chocolate into powder and adding it to tea leaves to make chocolate tea with unique taste.