The global dark chocolate market is a $65.6 billion industry projected to grow to almost $132 billion by 2033. These figures suggest a massive demand for and consumption of this cocoa-based product.

Chocolate is among life’s decadent treats, and you can enjoy it in many ways, like eating it as a candy bar or drinking it in a hot cup. If you’re a parent, you can consider giving your children chocolate from time to time.

 
Some people may also argue that chocolate, including dark chocolate, may have potential health benefits. Learning about these benefits can help you decide whether to include dark chocolate in your diet.

 

Dark Chocolate’s Potential Benefits

Chocolate is generally delicious to consume, but it’s not always healthy. However, experts say that dark chocolate may contain numerous benefits.

The Harvard School of Public Health mentions that dark chocolate contains beneficial nutrients like the following:

Copper: Helps produce red blood cells and keeps your immune system and nerve cells healthy. Copper also acts as an antioxidant to reduce free radicals that can damage cells.

Magnesium: Assists various enzymes in building strong bones and proteins and regulating blood pressure, blood sugar, and nerve functions.

Phosphorus: Plays an essential role in the body’s protein production for the growth, repair, and maintenance of cells and tissues. Phosphorus also helps the body produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to store energy.

Iron: Helps the body produce hemoglobin, a red blood cell protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to other parts of your body, and myoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen to the muscles.

Dark chocolate can also be a delightful treat for expectant mothers, offering both satisfaction and potential health benefits. According to a recent study it is considered safe and advantageous for expectant mothers to consume moderate quantities of dark chocolate during pregnancy.

Dark chocolate provides 18% of your RDA (recommended daily allowance) of iron in 100g. Find out more about iron requirements in pregnancy here

However, it is recommended that pregnant women consult their healthcare provider to ensure that their dietary preferences are suitable for their individual requirements and situations. 

Phytonutrients

Resveratrol: May slow down the development of cancer and can be an antioxidant that delays the development of heart disease.

Flavanoids: Assists in improving blood flow to your heart and brain, lowering blood pressure, fighting cell damage, and preventing blood clots.

Flavonoids are compounds found in plants, fruits, leaves, and vegetables and may contain anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral properties. These compounds may also have cardioprotective (protects the heart) and neuroprotective (protects the nerves) benefits.

Dark chocolate contains cocoa solids with two to three times more flavanol than milk chocolate. Studies suggest that flavanols in chocolate may help increase insulin sensitivity, which could reduce diabetes risk in the long term.

Cocoa solids comprise 50% to 90% of a dark chocolate’s composition. In comparison, milk chocolate only has 10% to 50% of cocoa solids. Experts say that a higher percentage of cocoa solids means more flavonoids and lower sugar content.

Milk chocolate and dark chocolate contain similar ingredients, like cocoa solids, sugar, and cocoa butter, at the core. But compared to milk chocolate, dark chocolate has lower fat and sugar content.

High sugar intake often leads to a higher risk of heart disease. Meanwhile, excessive fat intake can increase your risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.

In other words, eating dark chocolate may have lesser health risks than milk chocolate.

If you’re sensitive to dairy products like milk solids or maintaining a dairy-free diet, dark chocolate can be a great alternative. It is generally a non-dairy product compared to milk chocolate.

Higher amounts of dark chocolate may contain more caffeine and a bitter taste. Eating two ounces of 70% dark chocolate equals consuming about 50 milligrams (mg) to 60mg of caffeine.

If you want to consume dark chocolate despite the caffeine, experts suggest a serving size of one to two ounces.

It can have a bitter taste so consider starting with 50% dark chocolate, especially if you haven’t tried eating it. If you can tolerate its bitter taste or caffeine content, you can move up gradually. 

If you’re still uncertain about dark chocolate’s health benefits, consult a nutritionist or dietitian to learn more about this bittersweet treat.

To wrap this up, eating dark chocolate has many more advantages compared to regular chocolate! It contains antioxidants that are good for the heart, helps improve brain function, and can boost your mood. So go ahead and indulge yourself with the treat everybody loves!

Dark Chocolate
http://https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/dark-chocolate/

Copper https://www.checkyourfood.com/micronutrients/micronutrient/22/copper

Cocoa: a sweet treat for the brain?
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cocoa-sweet-treat-brain-201502057676

 
Iron
https://www.checkyourfood.com/micronutrients/micronutrient/24/iron

Magnesium
https://www.checkyourfood.com/micronutrients/micronutrient/25/magnesium

Phosphorus in diet
https://www.checkyourfood.com/micronutrients/micronutrient/28/phosphorus

Important Flavonoids and Their Role as a Therapeutic Agent
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7697716/

The sweet danger of sugar
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar

Fat intake
https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/3418

Consumption of 85% cocoa dark chocolate improves mood in association with gut microbial changes in healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955286321002746