Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

We always shy away from consuming too much sweets, as we know that sugar in excess can be harmful for our bodies. But what if I told you that certain types of sweets actually had significant benefits? One of those, is dark chocolate. While dark chocolate may sometimes have varying amounts of sugar in it the higher the percentage of dark chocolate, the healthier it is. 

Take Pasha International's Single Origin Dark Chocolate. Our dark chocolate is made with only 2 ingredients, both of which are organic: organic cacao beans and organic cane sugar. There has long been theories and studies about the benefits of dark chocolate, and I'm here to share just a few potential benefits of dark chocolate.

Great Source of Antioxidants
Firstly, we know that dark chocolate has compounds that are high in antioxidants. One of those is flavanol which is known to help improve blood flow in the body. Studies have shown that dark chocolate has a higher presence of antioxidants than most foods

Helps Lower Blood Pressure
Some studies have indicated that dark chocolate improves the flow of blood, thereby improving blood pressure. Flavanols produce Nitric Oxide (NO) which helps relax the arteries and reduce resistance of blood flow in the body. However, other studies have shown that dark chocolate has no impact on blood pressure, so this is more or less not conclusive and further research is still needed. 


May Help In Reducing Risk of Heart Disease
Compounds in dark chocolate help reduce oxidation which can protect against clogging of the arteries which in turn can protect against heart disease. The risk of death from heart disease was reduce by half over the course of 15 years according to a study conducted on older men. Several studies have found that regular consumption of dark chocolate helps reduce risk of heart disease over a long term. 

Helps Improve Brain Function
Dark chocolate also helps brain function. In case you haven't noticed the theme yet: flavanol helps increase blood flow throughout the body, which includes the brain. This allows the brain to function better. It contains caffeine and theobromine as stimulants which can help with overall function, including with older adults that suffer from cognitive impairment.

Protects the Skin
Compounds within dark chocolate can help increase skin density and hydration which can help protect your skin against the sun. Flavanols from dark chocolate helps improve the blood flow in the body which allows the body to better protect the skin from sun damage.

Of course, we highly recommend consulting with your medical provider before taking dark chocolate as a form of treatment or as a substitute of any existing treatment. In general we recommend consulting with your medical provider regarding any nutritional considerations as it relates to your health. 

We sell two Single Origin Dark Chocolate bars: Dominican Republic and Madagascar beans. Each is made with just two organic ingredients as mentioned above; organic cacao beans and organic cane sugar. Our bars are made in San Diego, California. Order yours today!