Dark chocolate or cocoa's fatty acid composition is also good for the heart. Cocoa butter is the source of the fat in chocolate. Oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat also present in olive oil, stearic acid, and palmitic acid are all present in equal proportion.
Digital Desk: Do you have
a guilty pleasure for chocolate? It's time to change the way people view it so
that it looks like a superfood. A 2020 study that was reported in the European
Journal of Preventive Cardiology suggests that chocolate may be good for your
heart. Your cardiovascular system will thank you if you eat dark chocolate.
Priyanka Lulla, dietitian, and Sir H N, Reliance Foundation Hospital, list
several outstanding advantages of dark chocolate or cocoa for maintaining heart
health.
Heart-Health Benefits of
Dark Chocolate or Cocoa:
• Dark chocolate contains a variety of nutrients that are good
for our heart, including selenium, which keeps oxidative stress under control
and lowers the risk of heart disease. Magnesium helps maintain a healthy
heart rhythm, iron, which aids in the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to
tissues including the heart, and potassium, which helps improve blood pressure.
• Dark chocolate or cocoa's fatty acid composition is also good
for the heart. Cocoa butter is the source of the fat in chocolate. Oleic acid,
a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat also present in olive oil, stearic acid,
and palmitic acid are all present in equal proportions. Stearic and palmitic
acids are examples of saturated fatty acids. A high intake of saturated fats
may increase the risk of heart disease and raise LDL cholesterol (the bad
cholesterol).
- Organic components that serve as
antioxidants is abundant in dark chocolate. These include catechins,
flavanols, polyphenols, and methylxanthines, which may reduce inflammation
and increase good cholesterol (HDL). The bioactive components in cocoa
known as flavanols, which are also present in fruits, vegetables, and some
beverages, may enhance blood flow through the arteries and aid with blood
pressure control.
• Due to
its high content of nitric-oxide-inducing flavanols, cocoa has been associated
with improved blood flow, improved brain function, and a decreased chance of
developing heart disease. In addition to having an antibacterial impact,
polyphenols in cocoa bean husk can also neutralize bacteria that cause bad breath
and stop some bacteria from converting sugar and starches into acid, which
loves to wreak havoc on your teeth. One such important component of cocoa beans
is theobromine, which is present in dark chocolate in higher proportions than
in milk chocolate. Why is it important to choose the right type of chocolate?
To reap the rewards of
chocolate's beneficial ingredients, it is crucial to choose the proper kind.
Even dark chocolate has undergone processing to have the majority of its
flavanols removed. Because the first component stated is the one that is
present in the food product in the greatest proportion, always choose chocolate
that has chocolate liquor or cocoa as the first ingredient when shopping for
it. To benefit the most from chocolate for heart health, choose high-quality bars with a cocoa level of at least 70% or higher.
Try adding chocolate to
your oatmeal in the morning or making a post-workout chocolate smoothie with some
walnuts and hazelnuts, along with other healthy lifestyle habits like getting
enough sleep and exercising, to incorporate chocolate in a healthy way. On its
alone, it is not a delicious panacea for heart disease. Consuming dark
chocolate with a minimum 70% cocoa content occasionally can help lower the risk
of developing heart disease and stroke.
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