Dark Chocolate Health Benefits

Are you facing high blood cholesterol and are planning to cut down your chocolate intake for it? Then DON’T…. Now there is no need to deprive your sweet tooth. Various studies show that having small amounts of dark chocolate enables you to reap a few unexpected health benefits. Great news….

 

What is Cholesterol?

It is a naturally-occurring chemical compound mainly produced by the liver. Cholesterol acts as a building block for hormones (testosterone and estrogen) and cell membranes and is a permutation of steroid and fat (lipid also lipoproteins).  Liver produces nearly 80% of the cholesterol and the rest is made available through our diet, which includes dairy products, poultry, meat and fish.

We require cholesterol to make hormones, to build cell membrane, digest our fatty foods and other body functions. However, there is a darker side of cholesterol too, when the cholesterol level in the blood becomes high it leads to damage of arteries by narrowing them and hence causing an obstruction in the blood circulation. Thereby the chances of an increase in heart attacks and coronary diseases are extremely amplified.

 

 

 

The three main classes of the lipoproteins present in the blood are:

1. Low density lipoproteins (LDL) - considered as “bad cholesterol” and constitutes 60% -70% of the total cholesterol. These lipoproteins generally build up on the walls of the arteries and block the passage for normal blood circulation, which may result in unnecessary strain on your heart muscles and high blood pressure.
2. High density lipoproteins (HDL) – considered as “good cholesterol” and constitutes 20%-30% of the total cholesterol. Studies have shown that HDL helps in protecting us from atherosclerosis development. It takes the excess cholesterol from the walls of the arteries and takes it to the liver from where it can be easily eliminated.
3. Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) – cousin of HDL…

 

 

Dark Chocolate Cholesterol Benefits

The most important chemical compound present in dark chocolate, i.e. the flavonoids is the same compound found in red wine and responsible for lowering the LDL cholesterol.
The high cocoa content of the dark chocolates makes it one of the best varieties of chocolates, and it also retains 95% of its flavonoids. Cocoa being derived from vegetables and plants make it a healthier option. The polyphenol rich cocoa reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The antioxidant rich also increases the HDL cholesterol.

You may wonder whether the fat present in cocoa butter is good for cholesterol…yes it is…
The fat that comes from the cocoa butter constitutes of equal amounts of stearic acid, palmitic acids and oleic acid (a mono saturated fat also present in olive oil and is good for heart).the The stearic  acid has a neutral effect on the cholesterol.

 

 

The main dark chocolate cholesterol benefits are:

• The cocoa being generously full of polyphenols (procyanidins and catechins) helps in preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and also averts the chances of atherogenesis.

 

• The high antioxidant level of cocoa in dark chocolate increases the plasma HDL thereby reducing the LDL.

 

• Another study was done on apolipoproteins A1 and B produced by the cocoa polyphenols. These apolipoproteins are proteins that get attached to the lipids (oil like cholesterol) and make them water soluble so that they get easily carried away in our water-based system. This whole procedure makes them less sticky, and hence they do not accumulate on the walls of the arteries.

 

• The flavonoids release nitric oxide, which helps in the relaxation of blood pressure and also maintains some hormones of the body.

 

 

Regardless of so many dark chocolate health benefits, you should not consume it with every meal. It should only be consumed in moderation and should not be replacing other healthy flavonoids sources of foods like blueberries, grapes and acai berry.

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