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Scientists have been investigating the mysteries of cocoa since at least 1200 B.C., and the jury's still out on its exact health benefits. The good news is that more and more studies seem to suggest that dark chocolate, which is loaded with cocoa, need not be a guilty indulgence.
Here are five delicious reasons to chow down on the cocoa goodness:
1. Real Chocolate Isn't Junk Food
There's chocolate and then there's chocolate. The former is a brown bar of sugary candy, the latter an antioxidant powerhouse.
The difference is what's in each. Real chocolate is made mostly from cocoa, the mysterious substance responsible for most of the treat's healthy benefits. Flavanols, one of cocoa's key components, are antioxidants. Chocolate may contain added sugars, but if you're eating dessert in moderation, you may as well enjoy some benefits, too.
To ensure you're getting chocolate's healthy perks, look for dark chocolates with high cocoa content. The more cocoa, the better. But be aware: the more cocoa, the more bitter, too.
Some experts swear by sprinkling pure cocoa powder on their morning oatmeal as it packs the most punch, but dark chocolate can still provide some of your daily dose. While there's debate about what exactly constitutes "dark chocolate," try to find bars with at least 70% cocoa.
But shop carefully — it's easy to pick the wrong bar. A 2012 Australian review pointed out that flavanol content can vary depending on the manufacturing process, as well as the ripeness and variety of the parent cocoa beans. "A 70% cocoa containing chocolate bar from one company therefore might not contain the same amount of flavanols and flavanol composition as a 70% chocolate bar from another company," the authors said.
Source: The Cochrane Library, 2012; 247th Meeting of the American Chemical Society, 2014
2. Chocolate Feeds Your Body's Good Bacteria
When scientists recently revealed how chocolate works in your body, the secret weapon was the body's good bacteria. These bacteria feast on the chocolate, fermenting it into anti-inflammatory compounds that can help reduce cardiovascular disease.
Source: American Chemical Society Press Release, 2014; 247th Meeting of the American Chemical Society, 2014
3. Chocolate Is Associated With Lower Blood Pressure
Interest in the effect of cocoa on blood pressure began when it was discovered that the Kuna Indians, who live on a small island in Central America, seemed to maintain a low hypertension rate and low blood pressure, a 2012 review said. Their secret seemed to be the three to four cups of cocoa drinks they had every day.