10. Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate contains minerals like iron, magnesium, and zinc. Dark chocolate includes antioxidants known as flavonoids, which may have various health benefits. Chocolate is made from cacao, a plant rich in minerals and antioxidants. Cocoa butter, sugar, milk, and trace amounts of cacao are all found in commercial milk chocolate. Dark chocolate, on the other hand, contains far more cacao and far less sugar than milk chocolate. Eating dark chocolate on a regular basis may help lessen a person’s risk of acquiring heart disease. Some of the molecules found in dark chocolate, notably flavanols, have been shown to reduce two key risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Dark chocolate also includes chemicals, such as polyphenols and theobromine, that may lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol is frequently referred to as “bad cholesterol,” whereas HDL cholesterol is referred to as “good cholesterol.” HDL cholesterol serves to lower total cholesterol levels in the blood, but LDL cholesterol might restrict blood arteries. According to a randomized, controlled study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2017, adding almonds, dark chocolate, and cocoa to the usual American diet without exceeding caloric demands may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Almonds and dark chocolate reduced the more harmful tiny, dense LDL particles in participants.
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