Studies show that dark chocolate — when it is not loaded with sugar and saturated fat — is indeed a heart-healthy chocolate treat and more. Dark chocolate is rich in disease-fighting antioxidants. Studies show it can help reduce blood pressure and lower your risk of heart disease.
Most dark chocolate is high in flavonoids, particularly a subtype called flavanols that is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.
Choose brands that say 70% cacao or higher on the label. Feel free to eat dark chocolate regularly, but don't overdo it, as excess calories can cause weight gain. A small portion—just a square or two a day—will still put a smile on your face while boosting your heart health.
Dark chocolate is best for you because it's the least processed chocolate, which means it contains the highest percentage of flavonoid-filled cocoa bean (cocoa).
Research continues to point to dark chocolate as having many health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, preventing blood clots, improving memory, lowering cholesterol and even preventing some types of cancer.
Lindt dark chocolate is the OG of healthy supermarket desserts – high in heart-friendly flavonoids and low in sugar. The higher the percentage of cocoa the less sweet stuff you'll find in the fine print, with the 85% cocoa option only containing 2.2 grams of sugar per serve.
Chocolate consumption has long been associated with conditions such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, and hypertension. Chocolate is believed to contain high levels of antioxidants. Some studies have suggested chocolate could lower cholesterol levels and prevent memory decline.
For those chocolate lovers, stick to dark chocolate that is at least 70% cacao to get the most health benefit.
The cocoa solids in Lindt dark chocolate contain flavonoids, which are antioxidants that have been shown to improve cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, and improve blood sugar levels.
Dark chocolate's cacao packs disease-fighting antioxidants, while its flavonoids (a compound found in fruit and veggies, too) may help boost heart health by lowering blood pressure, Kennedy explains.
Dr. Krittanawong said: “Chocolate contains heart healthy nutrients such as flavonoids, methylxanthines, polyphenols and stearic acid which may reduce inflammation and increase good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol).”
"Specific flavonoid compounds in dark chocolate keep the lining of the arteries more reactive to stress and to change in blood flow."
You can enjoy dark chocolates as often as you want. However, for a person who wishes to lose weight with these chocolates, dark chocolates should be eaten on an empty stomach or 30 minutes after a solid-food meal. They can also be eaten as a snack between lunch and dinner.
It is also worth noticing that 100% dark chocolate is the healthiest option among all the sugar-free chocolates on the market. To make their products palatable without sugar, many big chocolate manufacturers use alternatives with lower calories but higher sweetening power.
AHA Recommendation
We recommend that adults and children age 2 and older use milk that's low in dairy fats. This includes fortified fat-free (skim or nonfat) milk, fortified nonfat milk powder, and 1/2 percent and 1 percent low-fat milk.
People who eat more dairy fat — which is plentiful in whole milk, yogurt, and cheese — may be less likely to develop heart disease than people who eat smaller amounts of dairy, a new study suggests.
Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk Valentine Heart Blush Chocolate Bar, 150 g.
The study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association(link opens in new window), found that combining raw almonds, dark chocolate and cocoa significantly reduced the number of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, particles in the blood of overweight and obese people.
Product Details. Make any moment more delicious with the rich taste of indulgent, semi-sweet dark chocolate. First introduced in 2002, CADBURY ROYAL DARK Dark Chocolate is a darker twist on classic CADBURY bars. With two and a half servings in each 3.5-ounce bar, it's perfect for sharing.