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? When should you eat chocolate?
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.
Should you eat chocolate or cocoa?
It’s possible that when you need to eat chocolate urgently, what your body is truly asking for is cocoa. It’s key to mention this point because cocoa is very healthy, and in turn, some fats and sugars in chocolate are not as healthy. This is true 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 to use cocoa?
The first step is to find quality cocoa and organic if possible. You can make a lot of recipes with this cocoa, as it will give them that chocolate taste without adding the fat and sugar you don’t really need. Some examples of these recipes are:
- 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 is often 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 when 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. However, cocoa is not a miracle remedy. 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, since stress oxidizes the body. These antioxidants also help prevent aging and the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and cancer. To boost its antioxidant properties, it’s best to eat it on an empty stomach.
You might also like: Understand the Negative Effects of Stress
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 decrease. However, always make sure to check in with your doctor before taking any supplements.
Read also: Essential Oils that Will Relax You
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 actually worsens the digestion of calcium in the body.
To raise defenses
Cocoa contains vitamin C, a vitamin that you should get every day 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.
