What if your doctor advises you to indulge in hot chocolate because of its nutritional benefits?
No jokes here, the benefits of hot cholate were implemented from generations back. The minerals & bio-chemicals have loads of anti-oxidants that will directly aid your health.
In this article, we’ll take a deeper dive to quash the prejudices prevailing about hot cocoa. Bust the myths regarding hot chocolate to enjoy its amazing advantages!
1. Improves Heart Health
According to the United States NLM, hot chocolate preserves the heart’s health.
The Harvard research also shows chocolate’s benefit over atrial fibrillation (AF). Other cardiovascular diseases can be barred with the regular intake of hot cocoa, as proven from the reports of the National Institute of health.
Reason?
Cocoa is the main ingredient of hot chocolate which comprises many beneficial nutrients such as antioxidants like flavanols & phytosterols which readily reduces the LDL cholesterol in the blood, thus preventing any pre-mature heart diseases, coronary diseases, or heart attacks.
Feel like you are missing on cardio exercises? Hot chocolate has got your back, backed by epidemiological researches!
2. Boosts Brain Power
According to the joint research of the University of Illinois and the University of Birmingham, scientists have successfully proven that hot chocolate benefits in boosting brainpower.
As they posed the men for cognitive research, they derived that those who had indulged in cocoa drink enjoyed a significant edge over others in mental tests.
Reason?
Scientific reports suggest that cocoa flavanols hike up the brain’s oxygen levels at a go – directly boosting the brain’s metabolism. Hence, all the neurons get activated at a better rate when flavanoid dutch processed cocoa is drunk.
Moreover, increased levels of oxygen sheaths a person suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Next time, when you have to ace any exam, don’t miss to drink a brewing mug of hot chocolate.
3. Antioxidants
Antioxidants are a boon to fight the free radicals of the human body. In this way, antioxidants save you from ageing, heart diseases, and even cancer!
The benefits of hot chocolate include antioxidants. Thus there is enough reason to rejoice!
Reason?
The National Library of Medicine (NIH) portrays how hot cocoa powder filled with polyphenols, flavon-3-ols and procyanidin give birth to anti-oxidants. All these biological multi-phenol elements in the form of compounds in hot chocolate render proven advantage of the anti-oxidative properties.
According to the Lancet, cocoa helps in decreasing bad cholesterol production due to antioxidants like polyphenol compounds.
These are the reasons why cocoa surpasses tea and wine in anti-oxidant nutrients, isn’t it amazing?
4. Lowers Diabetes
Dutch-processed cocoa has good news for all diabetic patients. Unlike any other sweeteners, hot cocoa has opposite reactions on a diabetic patient. It reduces type 2 diabetes readily.
The pubmed.com reports show how a minimal quantity of cocoa around 54g or chocolate of 100g can result in a remarkable diabetes decrease, provided that the hot chocolate is frequently consumed.
Reason?
Cocoa’s rich polyphenol and flavonol nutrients act like swords against the insulin imbalance in the body. Therefore, the blood sugar level becomes normal, lowering the impact of diabetes.
Medscape even recommends sipping a mug of hot chocolate frequently to stray away from diabetes or to lower diabetes, in case you are already suffering.
5. Supports Weight Loss
This might sound spammy but hot cocoa does aid in leading a healthier life via weight loss. The benefit of hot chocolate increases if you intake a hot chocolate with a higher proportion of cocoa.
Cocoa flavanol snack bars comprises phytosterols that lower cholesterol level in the blood. Another fat increasing disease like Atherosclerosis or fat accumulation in the heart arteries is also prevented through hot chocolate consumption.
Reason?
Hot chocolate fills the stomach for a longer period, thus diminishing any food cravings. Also, the catechins & flavanols are enough to produce anti-oxidants that aids the fat loss process.
6. Lowers Blood Pressure
Indulging in hot chocolate can lower blood pressure.
Reason?
The chemical-rich flavanol cocoa drink infuses nitric oxide, which surges vaso-dilation in people.
In simpler words, the nutrients in a mug of hot chocolate can loosen up the arteries from fat storage. Thus endorsing a healthy blood pressure level!
The nutrients in the hot chocolate also improve the endothelial function.
So, stir in hot chocolate instead of sweets whenever your sweet tooth craves and aid your body by reducing blood sugar level.
7. Lowers Mood Swings
Hot cocoa lowers mood swings by rendering proper attention span. As stated by the American Psychological Association, mindfulness can be benefited by chocolate sipping.
Reason?
The polyphenols release mood lightening and happy hormones that calms down the turbulence in your mood.
In this fast-paced world filled with enormous distractions, you can make yourself a cup of rich hot chocolate and give your mind a break from the chaos!
Nature supports balance, so if you want to cherish the wider benefits of hot chocolate, you ought to add it to a balanced diet.
You cannot dream about stuffing cocoa and be healthy. That’s just wishful thinking, rather view the reality and sip the hot chocolate mug in a balanced manner.
This way, you will enjoy the taste and the benefits simultaneously!
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I always buy it for my daughter but didn’t know it’s also beneficial for me especially for blood pressure others are a bonus mmm I love it
Excellent relaxing drink which has enhanced my mood swing. Dil MaNge More. So resolved to make one coco drink daily. Listed advantages over weigh any negative points. May be I replace my evening Whisky drink with coco drink!!!!!!!!
I didn’t know that hot chocolate has health benefits. Wow thank you for the facts. Love Hot chocolate lol but I never ever knew what it’s good for.
Thank you. It is a great article. Thank you