Why You Should Eat Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the foods that people reach for as comfort when they are feeling down, tired or sad etc. But is it just a simple trick or can chocolate really give your body what it needs to feel better? The fact that it contains vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and tryptophan is the answer to that question.

It confirms all the health benefits of chocolate.

In this article, we’ll explain why your body is begging for chocolate, what you ingest by eating it, and how you can take advantage of its many natural and beneficial properties.

Chocolate or cocoa?

It is possible that when you feel you urgently  need to eat chocolate, your body is really asking for cocoa. It is important to make this point clear, because cocoa is a very healthy product and in turn some fats and sugars in chocolate are not healthy, especially in milk or white chocolate, chocolate ice cream, cream etc.

That is why we recommend choosing the  chocolate that is as pure as possible  and that contains a high percentage of cocoa (minimum 70%) or that also contains cocoa in powder form.

Watch this video below about the benefits of chocolate. The video is currently only in Spanish, but will be translated soon. Then keep reading to learn more about why you should eat chocolate.

The 7 benefits of eating chocolate

Why use cocoa?

The first step is, if possible, quality cocoa and organic cocoa. You can find a lot of recipes with cocoa used as chocolate and even create new recipes thanks to its texture:

• Cocoa and honey milk, a delicious drink whether it’s hot or cold
• Cocoa cake or marmalade
• Banana-walnut-and-cocoa smoothie for breakfast and to start the day with energy
• Cocoa sauce, lemon juice and brown sugar to substitute hot chocolate for garnish
• Melted cream by mixing the cream of nuts (eg almonds or peanuts), cocoa and brown sugar
• Cocoa infusion, a relaxing and remineralizing remedy

If your body lacks something…

Cocoa or dark chocolate has some essential ingredients for good health and that’s why when some of them are missing, your body begs you to eat chocolate. It contains vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, tryptophan… That is why we will explain below the cases where chocolate is often justified.

To improve your mood

Cocoa contains tryptophan, an amino acid that increases the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that sends a nerve signal that causes happiness. Therefore, cocoa helps against anxiety, irritability, depression, etc. These are the most common moments when you feel the need to eat chocolate and that is why you should not hesitate to eat it, but rather choose a high quality with a high percentage of cocoa.

Don’t forget to keep looking for other solutions or additions to balance your mood.

against stress

Cocoa is rich in antioxidants, even more so than green tea. That is why you often need it when you are stressed, because tension oxidizes the body. These antioxidants also help against aging and the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

To boost its antioxidant properties, it is best to eat it on an empty stomach.

To relax

Cocoa is one of the foods richest in magnesium, a mineral that nourishes your nervous system and muscles. You have to take this every day. In fact, many therapists recommend taking it as a dietary supplement because it is not used enough in our diets.

If you eat too much chocolate, you can try taking a bit of a magnesium supplement and your chocolate cravings may decrease.

To strengthen bones and teeth

Thanks to the calcium it contains,  cocoa helps strengthen bones and teeth, which is just one of its good qualities. To achieve this, it is important to eat sugar-free cocoa, because white sugar impairs the digestion of calcium in the body.

To strengthen the defenses

Cocoa contains vitamin C, a vitamin that you should get every day because it helps to improve your immune system and prevents many diseases, as well as nourishing your bones, teeth and skin. Who wouldn’t love to drink a cup of hot chocolate when you have a cold or a cold?

To revitalize yourself

If you feel especially tired or stressed,  cocoa can help you have more energy.  For these cases, mix pure cocoa with honey and cinnamon and take a tablespoon every morning.

Images courtesy of webmink, Lotus Carroll and IITA Image Library.