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One cup of cocoa per day may improve your health, and it’s delicious
It’s no secret that sugar is not just unhealthy, but it’s slowly and prematurely killing us. That’s why when we say chocolate, we never seem to think of it as anything more than a sugary filled delight. But chocolate also contains cocoa, which is extremely healthy, for the heart, brain, and it may help you control your weight. Whether you decide you drink cocoa or have a small portion of dark chocolate per day, it’s up to you.
Here’s why it’s essential to include it in your diet:
– One cup of cocoa drink prevents blood clots from forming, which, if they reach the heart or brain, can cause a heart attack or stroke. Cocoa also improves blood flow and reduces cholesterol. Having up to one portion of chocolate per day may decrease your risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.
– Cocoa products are associated with a more moderate weight, and the addition of cocoa to your diet may help gain faster weight loss. Nevertheless, more analysis is needed on this topic to determine precisely what type and how much cocoa is ideal.
– The flavanols in cocoa have encouraging anti-cancer characteristics in animal studies, but data from human trials are still missing.
– Cocoa shows some positive effects on mood and symptoms of depression by reducing stress levels and improving calmness, contentment, and overall psychological well-being. While the scientists are still working on more precise results, we already know that having just a bite of chocolate makes us a bit calmer.
– Flavanols in cocoa can maintain neuron production, brain function, and improve blood flow and supply to brain tissue. They may have a purpose in stopping age-related brain degeneration, such as in Alzheimer’s disease.
– Cocoa promotes healthy teeth by fighting bacteria that cause cavities, though this does not apply to products with added sugar. It also supports healthy skin by protecting it from sunlight and improving circulation, skin surface, and hydration.
Apart from eating small amounts of dark chocolate or drinking hot cocoa, you can add it to smoothies, sprinkle over fruit, or add it to chia pudding. Cocoa has an unusual, bitter yet sweet taste, so it adds a unique charm to homemade cookies.
