That chocolate contains flavonoids is no hidden secret, but many people aren’t really aware of what exactly they do. Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic compounds that have numerous beneficial biochemical and antioxidant effects. Improved thinking, decreased appetite, lowered blood pressure—the potentials of dark chocolate are limitless.
These benefits protect you against cardiovascular disease through their antioxidant properties. Snacking on unprocessed dark chocolate helps reduce a person’s risk of obesity and diabetes.
In a recent lab study conducted by the American Chemical Society, scientists fed mice different diets with different levels of fats and sugar.
They were out to test what the effects of different combinations of cocoa flavanols would have on the rodents.
What they found, was a set of compounds—called oligomeric procyanidins, also known as PCs, had a significant weight-control effect when given to mice on a high-fat diet.
This helped the mice regulate their blood glucose levels, which tells us that it might be a useful treatment for diabetes.
Of course, this research is fairly new and experimental and what exactly the effect is for humans is yet to be properly investigated.
And, even though we’re not exactly saying you need to binge on your favourite bar to shed the pounds—it does come as sweet news to know that one of our favourite indulgences might be what keeps our weight and sugar in check, no?
Be mindful though, as the good in chocolate, especially dark, is what gives it its bitter taste. This is why manufacturers often process cocoa to lessen its flavour, stripping it of its flavonoids.
For this reason, BB recommends to opt for unprocessed dark chocolate, to really reap in the health benefits.
Written by Nazneen Joshi on Jun 03, 2014