Is dark chocolate good for you? It’s something we’d all like to believe, right? We’re told about the so called health benefits of dark chocolate a lot, so where does that come from? Why dark chocolate? And how much is ‘too much’? Please take the concept of too much chocolate with a pinch of salt.
Why dark chocolate and not other types?
Dark chocolate has health benefits due to the cocoa percentage, the higher the better. And if it’s raw cacao, not cocoa, that’s even better still. So technically speaking, if you make something with raw cacao powder, like a chocolate oats or hot chocolate, that’s better for you than eating the chocolate in terms of vitamins and minerals.
But if we’re speaking strictly about eating chocolate, it’s the cocoa percentage. So it’s not just about it being dark. A 37/38% cocoa bar of Bourneville isn’t enough to try and claim the health benefits, sorry.
Why is cocoa/ raw cacao good for you?
Raw cacao is rich in so many different vitamins and minerals, some of which people may find surprising.
It’s a source of:
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Copper
- Potassium
- Antioxidants
There are some studies showing a positive correlation between dark chocolate (70%+ cocoa) and lower cholesterol and reduced blood pressure, although the impact is usually minimal and not all studies in this area support the heart health theory.
However, another study found that people who already had heart disease who consumed a few squares a day had 50% less chance of dying over a 15 year period.
Suggested Recipe: Pistachio Chocolate Energy Balls
So, is dark chocolate good for you?
Well, you can’t deny the health benefits. But chocolate still isn’t the healthiest option out there. Yes, it’s a good source of iron. But it’s not the highest source of iron out there.
If you love chocolate, or have a sweet tooth in general, darker is better. Milk and white don’t provide the vitamins, minerals or antioxidants that dark chocolate does, so that’s purely indulgence. And there’s nothing wrong with not caring if chocolate provides any health benefits while you’re enjoying your dessert.
But if you like the idea of having chocolate for breakfast and don’t want to feel guilty about it, then there’s nothing wrong with adding some raw cacao powder or chocolate chips to your oats/ pancakes.
Everything in moderation
I know, I know. That phrase again. But it’s true. While there are health benefits to dark chocolate, and some higher percentage cocoa bars are lower in sugar than white or milk, it does still contain sugar and saturated fat that you don’t need. And I hate to break it to you, but a lot of the minerals in dark chocolate are also the ones found in spinach.
Suggested Recipe: Brownie Batter Baked Oats
I’m not suggesting for one second we all start trying spinach baked oats, but it’s a gentle reminder that the vitamins and minerals can be found elsewhere.
Are you a fan of dark chocolate? And were you aware of any of these health benefits?
And yes, this means there’s a month of chocolate recipes coming in March.
Until next time,
Sophie
As a huge dark chocolate fan, this was really interesting to read. The study that found that people with heart disease that consumed a few pieces of dark chocolate a day had 50% less chance of dying was fascinating! Thanks for sharing x
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
Yum! I love dark chocolate and I actually prefer it over milk or others. I’m not a fan of super sweet desserts so dark chocolate has always been my go-to! This was really informative! Thank you for sharing xx
http://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
I’ve heard that there are a lot of health benefits to dark chocolate, but like you said, it’s important to eat it in moderation! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I’ve always been curious about what the benefits of dark chocolate actually were after hearing for years that dark chocolate is supposed to be good for you. This was such an informative post and answered all those questions – thank you!
I’ve looked into this topic before, and it is pretty interesting to see what vitamins and minerals you can get from dark chocolate but yes like you said, in moderation and you can eat other things that are a lot better health wise. But I do love dark chocolate so I don’t mind treating myself to it every so often! Great post xx
Great post! Thank you for sharing this! I’ve wanted to know whether dark chocolate is healthy or not so this is very useful. I really like dark chocolate and I have it as a substitute when I want to be healthy!
It is what you said: everything in moderation! That’s kind of difficult for me right but I’m trying. I had a handy heads up with chocolate since my aunt worked at Cadbury’s and worked with Bournville chocolate! Haha!
Daisy xoxo
Dark chocolate is my favourite, lovely post bringing
unknown facts..
I have always wondered about this! I knew it had some health benefits, but no idea what they were. Thank you so much for clearing it up for me.
I am all about anything about 80%, so this is news I always like to hear :’) It makes sense that the cacao powder would be better than the chocolate as well–in any case, I enjoy consuming both, and I’m gonna keep on doing so x
I’m a big sweet tooth so dark chocolate has always been too bitter for my taste. But I shall definitely give it a go more often since it’s source of iron and I’m badly lacking that. Definitely better than any supplements.
LackaDaisy
A while back I started eating dark chocolate because of these health benefits. I love it…tastes yummy!
http://www.fashionradi.com
I love dark chocolate ❤
I do like to fool myself dark chocolate is healthier than regular chocolate (white chocolate being my weakness) but I agree, it’s not the healthiest choice. no harm in a little piece now and then though 😉 Or two 😉 ha!
Hope you are having a good week.
Well good to know that about spinach because I eat my fair share of spinach but dark chocolate… while I can consume it, most cases I’ll pass. Thanks for going a little deeper regarding dark chocolate.
Des | https://www.itsbetterinheels.com
In the evenings, for the past several months, I would enjoy like two dark chocolate organic squares. But the problem is because I’ve been told so many times that it is healthy, sometimes I have a little more than I should. So now I only have dark chocolate on the weekends. Monday thru Friday I only have an apple in the evenings. Your right it is the healthier option, but moderation is key 🙂
https://www.chicnpink.com
Nice post!
I love a piece of dark chocolate when I have cravings around my time of month.
Dark chocolate seems to fill me up so much more for some reason!
I could eat an entire bar of (vegan) milk chocolate and still want more, but just a piece or two of dark chocolate and I’m completely satisfied.