Why You Should Eat Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the foods that people tend to find comfort in when they are feeling down, tired or sad, etc. But is it merely a simple trick or can chocolate truly give your body what it needs to feel better? Its content of vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and tryptophan is the answer and confirms all of its health benefits.

In this article, we will explain why your body begs for chocolate, what you get by eating it, and how you can take advantage of its many natural and beneficial properties.

Chocolate or Cocoa?

It’s possible that when you need to eat chocolate urgently, what your body is truly asking for is cocoa. It is important to mention this point because cocoa is a very healthy good, and in turn, some fats and sugars in chocolate are not as healthy, especially in milk or white chocolate, chocolate ice cream, creams, etc.

That is why we recommend choosing the purest chocolate possible that has a high percentage of cocoa (at least 70%) or powdered cocoa as well.

Check out this video below on the benefits of chocolate. The video is currently only in Spanish but should be translated soon. Then keep reading below for more information on why you should eat chocolate.

The 7 Benefits of Eating Chocolate

Why Use Cocoa?

The first step is to find quality cocoa and organic if possible. You can make a lot of recipes with this cocoa that chocolate was used for and even for new ones thanks to its texture:

• Cocoa and honey milk, a delicious drink whether it is hot or cold
• Cocoa sponge cake or marmalades
• 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 as a garnish
• Melted cream by mixing the cream from nuts (for example, almonds or peanuts), cocoa, and brown sugar
• Cocoa infusion, a relaxing and remineralizing remedy

When Your Body Is Lacking Something…

Cocoa or pure chocolate has some essential ingredients for good health and that is why when some of them are missing, your body begs you to eat chocolate. It contains vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, tryptophan… For that reason, below, we will explain all of the cases in which eating chocolate frequently is justified.

To Improve Your Mood

Cocoa contains tryptophan, an amino acid that boosts serotonin production, a neurotransmitter that sends a nervous system signal that causes happiness. That is why cocoa improves anxiety, irritability, depression, etc. These are the most common times that you will feel the need to eat chocolate, and that is why you should not hesitate to eat it but rather choose a high quality one with a high percentage of cocoa. Don’t forget to search for other remedies or supplements to balance your mood.

For Stress

Cocoa is rich in antioxidants, even more so than green tea. That is why you often need to eat it when you are stressed because stress oxidizes the body. These antioxidants also help prevent aging and the risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases and cancer. To boost its antioxidant properties, it’s best to eat it on an empty stomach.

To Relax

Cocoa is one of the richest foods in magnesium, a mineral that nourishes your nervous system and musculature. You should get this every day. In fact, many therapists recommend taking it as a supplement, because it is highly deficient in current diets. For that reason, if you are eating too much chocolate, you can try taking a magnesium supplement and your chocolate cravings may go down.

To Strengthen Bones and Teeth

Thanks to the calcium it contains, cocoa helps strengthen bones and teeth, among other properties. In order to get this, it is important to eat sugar free cocoa, because white sugar worsens the digestion of calcium in the body.

To Raise Defenses

Cocoa contains vitamin C, a vitamin that you should get everyday because it helps raise your defenses and prevents many diseases, as well as nourishes your bones, teeth, and skin. Who wouldn’t like a cup of hot chocolate when you have a cold or are cold?

To Revitalize Yourself

When you feel especially tired or stressed, cocoa helps you get energy. In 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