How much dark chocolate should you eat a day for health benefits?

What is the daily recommended amount of dark chocolate? The recommended “dose” is approximately 1 to 2 ounces or 30-60g, experts say. Indulge in anything more than that, and you may be consuming too many calories.

What percentage of dark chocolate do you need to benefit the body?

Choose 70% dark chocolate or higher to obtain the most flavanols. Though keep in mind that the higher the percentage of cocoa solids, the greater the bitter flavor.

What happens if you eat dark chocolate everyday?

Dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health. Made from the seed of the cacao tree, it's one of the best sources of antioxidants you can find. Studies show that dark chocolate can improve your health and lower the risk of heart disease.

How many squares of dark chocolate is healthy?

Enjoyed as an occasional treat, 20g of high-cocoa, minimally processed dark chocolate (about six small pieces or two large squares) may be incorporated in a varied, balanced diet. However, as dark chocolate is high in calories, saturated fat and potentially sugar, your intake should be moderated.

What is the best time for eating dark chocolate?

You can enjoy dark chocolates as often as you want. However, for a person who wishes to lose weight with these chocolates, dark chocolates should be eaten on an empty stomach or 30 minutes after a solid-food meal. They can also be eaten as a snack between lunch and dinner.

10 Proven Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate | Why Is Dark Chocolate Healthy?

Which brand of dark chocolate is best?

How long does it take for dark chocolate to give you energy?

Caffeine is naturally present in cocoa beans, so just a little bit of chocolate contains some of the stimulant. And after 40 minutes the caffeine will start to kick in. In fact, a bar of Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate has 31 milligrams of caffeine, which is almost as much as a can of Coke contains.

What dark chocolate is the healthiest?

Bottom Line: The healthiest dark chocolate contains a cocoa percentage of 70% or higher, which provides more antioxidants and health benefits.

Is 100% dark chocolate the healthiest?

It is also worth noticing that 100% dark chocolate is the healthiest option among all the sugar-free chocolates on the market. To make their products palatable without sugar, many big chocolate manufacturers use alternatives with lower calories but higher sweetening power.

Is Hershey's special dark chocolate good for you?

Chocolate protects against blood inflammation

Eat one Hershey's dark chocolate bar per week, and your risk of heart disease will decrease, a 2008 study found. About 6.7 grams of dark chocolate per day keeps the blood inflammation-inducing proteins away.

What happens if you eat 100% dark chocolate?

Health benefits of 100% dark chocolate include the following: Combats the presence of free radicals, which cause chronic illness and disease. Improves the function of the vascular endothelium (the cells that line the insides of your blood vessels) Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

What are the disadvantages of eating dark chocolate?

Side Effects of Dark Chocolate

Excessive consumption of dark chocolate can increase caffeine levels in blood, causing increased heart rate, nausea, dehydration and insomnia. Approximately 30-60 grams of dark chocolate per day is recommended quantity to be healthy.

Is 85% dark chocolate good for you?

“So there are mood-enhancing benefits to eating dark chocolate.” In fact, a study published in January 2022 found that participants who ate 85% dark chocolate daily maintained better overall mood than others who ate chocolate with less cocoa — or no chocolate at all.

Is dark chocolate an anti inflammatory?

70% cocoa dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, which have some major anti-inflammatory effects. Flavanols help to reduce inflammation and keep the cells that line the arteries healthy. Antioxidants fight inflammation and free radicals, which can help your immunity and reduce your risk of disease.

Is dark chocolate good for your liver?

Dark chocolate contains potent anti-oxidants which reduce the post-prandial (after-meal) blood pressure in the liver (or portal hypertension) associated with damaged liver blood vessels (endothelial dysfunction).

Is dark chocolate good for arthritis?

Chocolate, specifically 70% pure cocoa, has been studied and the results are in. It can reduce inflammation related to arthritis! Dark chocolate contains specific compounds called phytochemicals that have been shown to reduce inflammation and joint pain.

Is Ghirardelli 72 dark chocolate healthy?

Dark chocolate has intrinsic health benefits similar to fruits, vegetables and tea. All of these foods contain flavonoids that have potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory actions in bodily functions. Dark chocolate with 72 percent cocoa solids has positive effects on your health, with a small risk.

Is dark chocolate good for high blood pressure?

It also helps lower risk of diabetes, heart disease

More good news for chocolate lovers: A new Harvard study finds that eating a small square of dark chocolate daily can help lower blood pressure for people with hypertension.

Does dark chocolate raise cholesterol?

The study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association(link opens in new window), found that combining raw almonds, dark chocolate and cocoa significantly reduced the number of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, particles in the blood of overweight and obese people.

Is dark chocolate healthier than an apple?

An apple is a healthier snack because it has more nutritional value than chocolate — and a fraction of the calories. Apples contain vitamins and minerals that are essential to healthy growth and development, as well as brain functioning, heart health, and our bodies' other daily needs.

Is dark chocolate healthier than blueberries?

The scientists have found that antioxidant content of dark chocolate is higher than so called “super fruits” like acai berry, blueberry, cranberry, and pomegranate. It is believed that antioxidants fight the damaging effects of oxidative stress on cells within the body and have many heart-healthy properties.

How often should you eat dark chocolate?

And even though quality dark chocolate is a better choice than milk chocolate, it is still chocolate, meaning it's high in calories and saturated fat. To avoid weight gain, Amidor recommends eating no more than 1 ounce (oz) of dark chocolate per day.

Why do I feel better after eating dark chocolate?

Dark chocolate contains psychoactive ingredients that produce feel-good results; one is phenylethylamine, a neuromodulator that helps regulate mood. Plus, dark chocolate contains a higher concentration of antioxidants that reduce inflammation, a condition linked to the onset of depression.

Why do I feel sleepy after eating dark chocolate?

Chocolate also contains tryptophan, which stimulates serotonin and melatonin. And serotonin and melatonin are believed to help sleep. But again, the amount of tryptophan differs by chocolate type and it impacts different people very differently.

Why can't I sleep after eating dark chocolate?

Theobromine, which increases heart rate and causes sleeplessness, is found in small amounts in chocolate, especially dark. The National Sleep Foundation recommends avoiding chocolate — as well as coffee, tea and soft drinks — before bedtime.