Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate For Men & Women

In this article, I will tell you about joys and benefits of eating chocolate. What we know is this, that chocolate makes us feel good. It tastes good, and we get pleasure from it. But did you know that it also helps you with food? People ask me what type of chocolate they should eat.

Well, just like with other food the closure you get to the source, the more benefits you are going to get. The dark chocolate at least 70% contains the milk which is really the best in promoting health.

Prevention of Heart-Related Illness

Eating chocolate can decrease your risk of having heart attack by 37%. It also decreases of having the risk of stroke by 29%. And decreases the risk of getting diabetes by 31%.

Chocolate contains antioxidants and antioxidants are key in preventing heart diseases. Antioxidants also prevent you from cancer and infections.

Some of the most popular health benefits of dark chocolate for men and women are: 

  • It helps you to lose weight
  • Diarrhea Relief
  • Blood Sugar Reduction
  • Cholesterol Reduction

Read also Health Benefits of Green Tea for weight loss and other benefits.

One of the benefits of chocolate is that it actually promotes pleasure. There is a chemical reaction that makes us feel good. That’s what we like to give gift to those we love on valentine day. When you are looking for the most healthful chocolate that you can find and probably the tastiest, you might want to try and go to the chocolate shop.

It is one of the most well-known nourishment in the world. But really, did you know other foods finer than chocolate, as far as I am concerned I will answer of course not.

Yes, it satisfies sweet cravings of mine. The chocolate also has amazing flavor, by eating it gives me a happy feeling. And not only for its yummy taste but also it is very beneficial for the human body to stay healthy. Even though I am a die-hard supporter of veggies and fruits, when it comes to chocolate they sure have a lot to compete with. But I am not the only one who feels this way.

According to the recent research Americans spend nearly $22.4 billion worth of chocolate by the end of 2017.

Actually, we are lucky enough to have a box of chocolate out there. But the history said chocolate was once considered “A highly prices luxury item among Mayan and Aztec upper-class elites.”

Aztec rulers considered cacao beans as valuable as gold. They even used cacao beans to pay taxes!

On the other hand, eating chocolate can cause guilty feelings in people, sometimes who are not aware of its huge benefits, and who yet trust the misconception that it will turn them into “fat”. if you want to be able to justify eating a little bit of chocolate every day in the name of good health, then make sure you stick to the dark stuff.

The great thing about chocolate that if you eat it in control, you get all of the wonderful health and taste.

Tips on Preparation

Gratefully, chocolate comes ready-made, so all you need to do is open your chocolate bar and dig in! But if you’ve already done the rounds of all your local chocolate shops and have sampled more than your fair share of the different bars available at your supermarket, then now is the time to start getting creative.

Chocolate Soup

When my niece was in town — she is deeply addicted to chocolate — I remembered this recipe. It is an opulently chocolate soup and thicker than hot chocolate but still a liquid, unlike a pudding. In fact, my niece couldn’t finish it, well, at least not on the first try.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

  • Four (4) and a half (1/2) cups of whole milk
  • One (1) cup of condensed milk, sweetened
  • One (1) vanilla bean, split
  • Ten (10) ounces of chopped bittersweet chocolate
  • Five (5) tablespoons of cornstarch
  • Five (5) tablespoons of cold water
  • Chocolate biscotti
  • Raspberries, fresh
  • Mint leaves, fresh

Method:

  1. Mix together the condensed milk, whole milk, and vanilla in a small pan on medium. Almost boil the mixture, and stir. Take it off the heat and let it sit for 20 minutes. Run it through a strainer and then return it to the pan.
  2. Turn the pan on low and pour in the chocolate, stirring until it melts. Mix the water and cornstarch in a bowl and slowly pour it into the chocolate mix. Stir and cook until thick, for seven minutes.
  3. Pour into bowls and serve with raspberries, mint leaves and biscotti.

Black Bean and Chocolate Chili

Both are beans and both are pretty much black, and yet it seemed like a surprising combination to me the first time I made this. It is especially tasty.

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

  • Two (2) tablespoons of olive oil
  • One (1) and a half (1/2) cups of onion, chopped
  • Four (4) minced garlic cloves
  • One (1) sliced stalk celery
  • Two (2) minced jalapeno chilis
  • One (1) tablespoon of cumin
  • Two (2) teaspoons of oregano
  • Half (1/2) teaspoon of cinnamon
  • One (1) pinch of ground cloves
  • One (1) teaspoon of ground coriander
  • One (1) tablespoon of chili powder
  • Half (1/2) teaspoon of black pepper, freshly ground
  • Half (1/2) teaspoon of salt
  • One (1) and a half (1/2) cups of bell peppers, chopped
  • Two (2) 14.5 oz. cans of black beans, rinse and drain
  • One (1) 14.5 oz. can of diced tomatoes
  • One (1) tablespoon of lime juice, fresh
  • One (1) tablespoon of soy sauce
  • One (1) 1/2 oz. of semisweet chocolate
  • Vegan cheddar cheese

Method:

  1. Heat up the olive oil in a large pan on medium. Pour in the garlic and onions and cook for 10 minutes.
  2. Pour in the chili and celery and cook for five minutes.
  3. Turn down the heat and mix in the spices and the bell peppers. Cover and cook for five minutes, stirring often. Add liquid if needed.
  4. Pour in the tomatoes, black beans, soy sauce and lime juice. Let simmer for 10 minutes, until thick.
  5. Mix in the chocolate and let it melt. Add salt/pepper if needed.
  6. Serve with toppings such as tofu sour cream, scallions or vegan cheese.

Sugar-Free Dark Chocolate Truffles with Almonds

With no refined sugar, this will still produce a serious dose of sweet and chocolate.

Servings: 60

Ingredients:

  • One (1) cup of half and half
  • Eight (8) ounces of chocolate, unsweetened
  • Two (2) Tablespoons of butter
  • Two (2) cups of raisins, chopped finely
  • Two (2) cups of toasted almonds, ground finely
  • One (1) teaspoon of almond extract
  • Two (2) tablespoons of Splenda

Method:

  1. Put the chocolate, butter, and cream in a bowl. Heat in the microwave for 30 sec. at a time, stirring in between sessions. Continue until it is very hot. Stir in the raisins, almond extract, Splenda and one cup of almonds. Mix together well and refrigerate until it firms.
  2. Make small balls from scoops of the mix. Add in the rest of the almonds. Chill again for 30 minutes before serving.

Dark Chocolate and Oat Clusters

Both chocolate and peanut butter are high in monounsaturated fat and not to mention a combination that made The H. B. Reese Candy Company an empire, or at least until it was bought by Hershey’s.

Ingredients:

  • Two (2) tablespoons of peanut butter
  • Two (2) tablespoons of low-fat milk
  • Fourth (1/4) cup of chocolate chips, semi-sweet
  • Three fourth (3/4) cup of old-fashioned rolled oats

Method:

  1. Heat up the chocolate chips, milk, and peanut butter in a pan on low for three minutes until melted.
  2. Mix in the oats and take off the heat.
  3. Scoop out eight portions onto wax paper and place on a baking pan. Let chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

Mole Sauce (Chocolate Based)

A thick and sumptuous black sauce used in Mexican cuisine to pour over enchiladas or chicken. The cocoa is essential and works with the ancho chili powder. It is mild, so you don’t need to be too concerned about the heat. You can always titrate the heat up.

Servings: 3

Ingredients:

  • Four (4) and a half (1/2) cups of chicken broth
  • Three (3) tablespoons of olive oil
  • One (1) cup of onion, chopped finely
  • Three (3) tablespoons of chopped garlic
  • One (1) teaspoon of oregano, dried
  • One (1) teaspoon of cumin, ground
  • Fourth (1/4) teaspoon of cinnamon, ground
  • Four (4) tablespoons of chili powder
  • Three (3) tablespoons of flour, all-purpose
  • Two (2) tablespoons of raisins
  • Two (2) tablespoons of almonds, slivered
  • Two (2) ounces of chopped dark chocolate

Method:

  1. Heat up the oil in a pan on medium heat.
  2. Pour in the garlic, oregano, cinnamon, cumin and onion.
  3. Cover and let it cook for 10 minutes, until tender.
  4. Pour in the flour and chili powder and stir for one minute.
  5. Mix in the chicken broth.
  6. Turn the heat to medium-high.
  7. Boil for 35 minutes and stir.
  8. Let it cool, and then put the raisins, almonds, and sauce into a blender. Puree until creamy.
  9. Heat again on medium until it’s hot.
  10. Mix in the chocolate and turn the heat to low and cook for three minutes until smooth.

The above post about the benefits of dark chocolate for men is also useful for women. Please for any feedback use the comments box below.