Dark chocolate has been long touted as a healthier alternative to milk chocolate. It contains less milk and sugar compared to its commercial counterpart, which may not appeal to some. But in place of these ingredients, dark chocolate contains more antioxidants. In fact, it is one of the best sources of antioxidants you can include in your diet.

A number of research papers have revealed dark chocolate’s positive effects on the circulatory system. One study performed in 2011 showed that cocoa, the main ingredient of dark chocolate, easily beat other “super fruits” when it came to antioxidant content. A meta-analysis on chocolate done a year after found that the antioxidant epicatechin reduced blood pressure when taken in amounts less than 50 milligrams every day.

Meanwhile, a 2003 study found that the flavonoid content of dark chocolate widened the blood vessels by activating the nitric oxide system. This study explained the nitric oxide-activating properties of chocolate might explain why flavonoid-rich foods protect against cardiovascular diseases.

A subsequent 2007 study found that these same flavonoids impacted cholesterol levels in the body. According to the study results, the antioxidants in dark chocolate and other variants increased the level of high-density lipoproteins – the so-called good cholesterol – in the blood. Furthermore, these antioxidants lowered the level of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which are considered the bad kind of cholesterol. The catechin and quercetin in dark chocolate bind to LDL particles and target free radicals which contribute to bad cholesterol oxidation.

Don’t get anxious: Experiencing anxiety modifies dark chocolate’s protective effects

However, a group of Greek researchers aimed to scrutinize the link between eating dark chocolate and metabolic syndrome in 2017. Many papers have tackled how antioxidant-rich dark chocolate has the potential to minimize the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Similarly, studies have shown that chronic stress triggers these signs of metabolic syndrome.

The team behind the 2017 study initially looked at more than 3,000 healthy Greek individuals who participated in an earlier research endeavor from 2001 until 2002. Volunteers in the earlier study consumed dark chocolate, with the previous researchers measuring their chocolate intake. A follow-up was then performed from 2011 to 2012 on 75 percent of the participants.

Based on the 2017 study results, participants with metabolic syndrome had higher levels of anxiety than those without the condition. It found that among participants with lower anxiety levels, metabolic syndrome presence was five percent less likely to occur when they consumed 25 milligrams of dark chocolate every day. The five percent change was reflected following adjustment for gender, age and physical activity levels.

However, the team found no significant association between the degree of anxiety and dark chocolate consumption in subjects with lower anxiety levels.

The team’s findings suggested that eating dark chocolate every day could address metabolic syndrome development in people with low levels of anxiety and chronic stress. This moderating effect seen in dark chocolate ought to be tackled in a future study, it continued.

People with high anxiety levels may not find that much help with dark chocolate

Based on the Greek researchers’ findings, dark chocolate may have little to no effect on people with high levels of anxiety. A study conducted in 2012 appears to have touched on this finding.

The aforementioned study looked at the effects of consuming different kinds of snacks on participants’ moods. Study volunteers with different levels of anxiety were randomly given one of three snacks – cheese and crackers, dark chocolate and milk chocolate. Milk chocolate had the most prominent effect on those experiencing high anxiety: They felt less anxious 10 minutes after eating it. Meanwhile, dark chocolate was linked to a dip in perceived anxiety among low-anxiety volunteers immediately after eating the confection.

The study noted that no significant effects were observed with dark chocolate when high-anxiety participants. It elaborated that milk chocolate contained sugars and carbohydrates which evoked positive feelings – causing high-anxiety volunteers to feel relaxed.

Nevertheless, it acknowledged that daily intake of dark chocolate contributed some health benefits on the participants. Its antioxidant content caused the decrease of hormones linked to stress and anxiety, such as corticosterone and cortisol in those with high anxiety. Consuming dark chocolate for two weeks also had a positive impact on metabolic functions affected by high stress.

The Greek study’s discovery may be a downer, but don’t let that fact discourage you from indulging in your favorite dark chocolate brand. Relax and take a bite of dark chocolate for good health!

Check out Antioxidants.news to discover the benefits of dark chocolate and other antioxidant-rich snacks!

Sources:

BMCChem.BioMedCentral.com

Academic.OUP.com 1

Journals.LWW.com

Academic.OUP.com 2

ScienceDirect.com

BMJ.com

MDPI.com