Health Bulletin: Dark chocolates and its dark secrets

Chocolates, the sheer taste is a reason enough to indulge in that guilty pleasure. As if we needed any more reasons to consume chocolates... but what if i give you 8 fabulous reasons so that you can indulge in the guilt free pleasure.

For starters, we are talking about dark chocolates, with 70-80% cocoa content.

They are rich in nutrition and antioxidants. But before we start with the benefits keep in mind that everything is good when consumed in moderation, because with high benefits comes high calorie, sugar and fat content.

Find below the 8 reasons to to indulge yourself in that pleasure.

1) It boosts the cognitive functions.

A study published in the journal Appetite, suggests eating chocolate at least once weekly has the potential to improve cognitive functions. Scientists also suggest  that drinking hot chocolates aids memory retention.

2) Mood enhancer.

Consumption of chocolates releases endorphin - the happy hormone. It is the same hormone that brain secrets when you are in love or you are indulge in an intimate activity. So the next time you feel sad just do yourself a favour and grab a bar.

3) It controls cholesterol.

It has been found that consumption of dark chocolates has a positive effect on controlling cholesterol. In a study (controlled setting) , cocoa powder was found to significantly decrease oxidized LDL (bad  cholesterol). It also increased HDL (good cholesterol) .

4) Secret to youthful skin.

As it is rich in nutrition and antioxidants consuming chocolate has many skin benefits.

it counters the harmful effects of sun rays and UV rays. said that applying a chocolate mask on your face works as a great  exfoliate  and moisturizer.

5) Say bye bye to period cramps.

dark chocolate regulates blood flow- which eases the period cramps. Also it releases endorphin which will regulate your mood and give a hormonal balance.

6) It is good for your heart.

A study suggested that dark chocolate can restore the flexibility of arteries. it also prevents white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels - both common causes of artery clogging.

consumption of chocolates has also been linked to lower risk of having strokes.

7) Good for pregnant mothers and the foetus.

A study presented at the 2016 Pregnancy Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Atlanta, GA suggested that a consumption of around 25-30 grams of chocolate every day during pregnancy might benefit fetal growth and development.

8) Helps combat stress.

Various researches has been carried out to study the effects of chocolate on stress levels.

As it is widely known that consumption of chocolates releases endorphin the happy hormone, it can regulate your stress levels and can give a little boosts to your mood.

P.S: Always remember that moderation is the key, because too much of anything has its own negative effects.