ic patients showed that consumption of cocoa counteracts blood vessel dysfunction caused by diabetes and improves endothelial function.
Helps Improve Cholesterol Profile
The cocoa butter found in dark chocolate contains equal amounts of oleic acid (a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil), stearic and palmitic acids. While stearic and palmitic acids are forms of saturated fat, research shows that stearic acid appears to have a neutral effect on cholesterol. Yes, the palmitic acid in dark chocolate can increase cholesterol levels, but it makes up such a small portion of the fat in dark chocolate as to have little or no negative effect.
A 2009 study published in Southern Medical Journal looked at the effects of dark chocolate on 28 healthy subjects. The researchers found that just one week of dark chocolate consumption improved lipid profiles and decreased platelet reactivity for both men and women while reducing inflammation in women.
Check out these tidbits:
- Dark chocolate’s cocoa polyphenols may be involved in cholesterol control.
- Three-week consumption of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate increased HDL (good) cholesterol.
- 15-day consumption of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate resulted in total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol decreases of 6.5 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively.
- Seven-day consumption of regular dark chocolate resulted in a 6 percent decrease of LDL cholesterol and a 9 percent increase of HDL cholesterol.
Cocoa has long been used as a remedy for skin conditions such as burns and cuts. While there is not a lot of evidence for the topical use of cocoa products, a review of several studies showed that it promoted the regeneration of skin cells in pigs.
Oddly enough, pharmaceutical companies too have been on to the healing powers of cocoa for quite some time, incorporating cocoa extracts for its wound-healing and therapeutic properties in the manufacture of medicinal products.
Scientists consider cocoa extract as an active agent helping to prevent the growth of infectious bacteria.
Cocoa is effective for help in disinfecting wounds and protecting against harmful UV rays.
So, as you can see, there's plenty of evidence out there to confirm that a daily dose of high quality, dark chocolate does a body good!
Get your cocoa flavonols, feel better! #bean2bar #beantobar #tastethedifference