Health Benefits of Chocolate

 Scientific studies have shown that dark chocolates are rich in antioxidants and packed with nutrients, making this bittersweet treat a super food favorite. Dark chocolate contains phytonutrients called flavonoids, which are plant chemicals that act as antioxidants and may play a role in cancer prevention, heart health, and weight loss as noted by several key studies. The cacao from which the chocolate itself is extracted  is packed with numerous antioxidants — actually more than green tea or red wine. 

The best Dark Chocolate concentration is actually recommended to be about 70% or higher, any lower and it's likely that they contain fats and other substances that diffuse its effectiveness. one thing is for sure: Dark chocolate contains a ton of nutrients. Of course, the darker the chocolate the better, but any 70 percent dark chocolate or higher contains antioxidants, fiber, potassium, calcium, copper, and magnesium, according to a study published in the journal Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. It also contains a good chunk of calories and fat, so be mindful of your daily intake.

Each brand of chocolate is also processed differently; Amidor says going organic is always best because it’s grown without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and recommends always checking the ingredient list to make sure you’re consuming chocolate with fewer and more natural ingredients. Brands like Godiva strive to create quality chocolate with high concentrations of Cacao to satisfy those sweet yet healthy cravings. Check out their dark collection here