On July 7th every year, International Chocolate Day allows chocolate lovers around the world to indulge in their favorite dessert without any guilt.

The first World Chocolate Day was celebrated in 2009.

Because the seeds of the cacao tree have an intense, bitter taste, they must be fermented to develop the flavor. Once fermented, the processors dry, clean, and roast the beans. After roasting, the shell is removed to produce cocoa nibs.

Chocolate Health Benefits

Here are some important benefits of chocolate to help you eat it without feeling guilty:

1. Helps Maintain a Healthy Heart

Lots of studies reveal that flavonoids can help veins and arteries stay flexible. More than 7 studies followed 114,000 participants who were given a few servings of dark chocolate per week. The results showed that the risk of heart attack was reduced by about 37% while the chances of having a stroke were reduced by 29% when they had a higher consumption of chocolate.

2. Helps Improve Memory 

Research has shown that when older adults are given cocoa extracts that are high in flavanols, their cognitive functions improved dramatically. The only problem is that when it comes to eating chocolate, the percentage of cocoa flavanols goes down a lot due to processing and the addition of eggs, sugar, and milk.

3. Boosts Brain Function 

The startling finding of the research by Professor David Kennedy, Director of Brain, Performance, and Nutrition at Northumbria University Research Center (UK) states that when participants were given 500 mg of flavanols in a hot cocoa drink, they benefited from increased flow to the brain as a result, and they were better at dealing with difficult math equations.

4. Improves the Mood

Among the most popular findings, was the result of research at Swinburne University in Australia, where the research targeted polyphenols in cocoa and found that it had a beneficial effect on the moods of participants who were calmer and happier.

5. Helps Reduce Cholesterol Levels in the Blood

It was found out that when we consume dark chocolate with plant sterols and flavanols, cholesterol levels become lower.

6. Helps with Exercise

Another magical flavanol in chocolate is epicatechin. The rats were given this substance and were fitter and stronger than those rats on water alone. Researchers say that to get the best out of your workout, limit your intake to just one-half square of a tablet per day!

7. Aids to Lower BMI 

There has been a lot of focus on how chocolate can lower your body mass index (BMI) which is how you measure your height versus your weight.

When To Consult a Doctor?

Now that you know about its benefits you can celebrate World Chocolate Day without feeling guilty!

But we advise you to talk to a nutritionist, to find out how to include it in your diet in a balanced way without causing health problems for you.

Click here to book an appointment with a Nutritionist

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