Are Some Dark Chocolate Brands Healthier Than Others?
For us dessert lovers, it can feel like this part of our diet is inevitably going to be unhealthy—or at least not contribute to our overall health. However, that doesn’t have to be the case! There are actually plenty of better-for-you dessert options to choose from, and dark chocolate is certainly one of the most popular.
“Dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa content provides a rich source of antioxidants, which are compounds that help to prevent or delay cell damage and inflammation,” says registered dietitian Christina Badaracco, MPH, RDN, LDN. Dark chocolate may even be beneficial for heart health. “Recent research suggests cocoa consumption may modestly improve measures such as blood pressure,” adds dietitian Ali McGowan, MS, RD. But that’s not all: registered dietitian Kelsey Kalenderian, MS, RD, LDN shares that “some studies also suggest modest benefits for blood sugar regulation, cholesterol, and certain aspects of cognitive performance.” Impressive!
Excerpted from Real Simple
