Dark chocolate is the ultimate. Hell, I’ll be the first to stand up and clap for that. I’m so much of a fan that even I used to date (I kind of use that term loosely; it was more like “kicked it” for quite some time) someone who I nicknamed “Godiva” because that’s how dark, rich and smooth his skin was (whew-whee!). Okay, but let me stay on topic.
As someone who also likes dark chocolate in its edible form, I’ve actually known about the many ways that dark chocolate can benefit my health for several years now. Today, I simply want to share the wealth with all of you. The key is not to read this and then rush over to the candy aisle in your favorite grocery store. Nah, to get all of the goodness listed here, you’ve got to be prepared to eat the kind of dark chocolate that is so pure, it kind of has a bit of a chalky taste and texture (I’m just being honest).
Sure, it won’t be the sweetest experience on the planet yet, but after you get used to it, I can assure you that it will become one of the favorite parts of your day, as far as contributing to your health and well-being goes. Are you ready to find out the dark chocolate health benefits that make eating it so awesome and amazing for you? For starters, here are 12 proven reasons.
Dark Chocolate Health Benefits
1. Dark Chocolate Is Basically a Multivitamin
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So long as you’re consuming dark chocolate that contains at least 70 percent cocoa, you can be sure that you’re getting a good amount of fiber, magnesium, copper, manganese, and iron in your system. Not only that but dark chocolate also contains zinc, antioxidants, potassium, and selenium as well. So, if you’re looking for something that will give you a boost of nutrients in just a couple of bites, eating 1-2 squares of a dark chocolate bar can absolutely do the trick.
Just make sure that you go with a brand that contains a high amount of cocoa, and a low amount of sugar and that you only keep bars around for two years max (because yes, dark chocolate does have an expiration date).
2. It’s Got Cognitive Benefits
At the end of the day, flavonoids are compounds that are found in plants, fruits, veggies, and leaves. That said, something else that dark chocolate has in it is this compound. That’s good to know because there are studies that indicate that flavonoids can help to increase blood flow to the brain in a way that can help to improve your memory and increase your attention span. Other studies reveal that flavonoids can help to prevent dementia later on in life as well.
3. It Protects Your Skin from UV Rays
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One way that you can protect your skin from the sun, from the inside out, is to eat dark chocolate. It’s beneficial in this way because dark chocolate contains bioactive compounds and the antioxidants, phenols, and catechins that all work together to shield your skin from getting sunburn or, worse — skin cancer. And although melanated skin is not as vulnerable to either of these, that doesn’t mean we’re still not at risk. Always remember that. Yeah, eat some chocolate (use sunscreen, too!) to stay on top of avoiding these skin-related health problems.
4. Dark Chocolate Is Good for Your Skin in Other Ways Too
Magnesium can help to prevent breakouts. Copper helps to promote the production of collagen. Iron reduces the appearance of dark circles underneath your eyes and helps to give your skin a nice glow. Zinc helps to reduce skin inflammation. Antioxidants will help your skin retain moisture, soften the appearance of wrinkles, and give your skin more elasticity. Since dark chocolate contains all of these nutrients, I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this.
A word of caution, though: There are some studies that say that dark chocolate can trigger breakouts in people who already have acne-prone skin. The main reason is that sometimes dark chocolate is able to stimulate the bacteria that cause pimples in the first place. If anything, this is an additional reminder to eat dark chocolate that is as pure as possible and to not overdo it if acne is something that is a consistent issue for you.
5. It Strengthens Your Hair and Nourishes Your Scalp
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There are a few reasons why dark chocolate is good for your hair’s health and well-being. Since it contains anti-inflammatory properties, it makes it easier for nutrients to get to your hair follicles and ultimately strengthen your hair. If dandruff is what you struggle with, the zinc in dark chocolate can help to reduce the flaking, itchiness, and irritation. And since dark chocolate is full of iron, consuming it can help to prevent hair loss, too (since hair loss is oftentimes directly tied to an iron deficiency).
6. Dark Chocolate Reduces Stress
Heart disease. Asthma. Diabetes. Accelerated aging. Obesity. Guess what all of these things have in common? They are health-related issues that are directly connected to increased stress levels. Now, guess what can help out in the stress department? Yep, you guessed it: dark chocolate. The bottom line here is the stress hormone cortisol doesn’t like dark chocolate very much.
That’s because, when you consume it, the properties that are in the chocolate actually lower cortisol levels so that you feel calmer and more relaxed. Yeah, this dark chocolate thing just keeps on getting better and better, doesn’t it?
7. It Hardens Tooth Enamel
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If there’s one thing that you need to go out of your way to preserve, it’s the enamel that is on your teeth. The reason why is because, although you can remineralize it, what you can’t do is grow it back. That’s because, although tooth enamel is reportedly the hardest tissue that your body produces because it’s not comprised of living cells, once it’s gone…it’s gone. Now watch this: something that can help to harden tooth enamel is dark chocolate. That’s due to a compound in it known as CBH.
Know what else? Some medical professionals say that there are other properties in dark chocolate that seem to be even more effective than fluoride when it comes to keeping tooth decay at bay. Now, how wild is that?
8. It Lowers Your Blood Pressure
Are you someone who deals with hypertension? There are studies that say that the compounds in dark chocolate can help to dilate blood vessels. This is a good thing because that helps to increase blood flow throughout your body, which ultimately lowers your blood pressure in the process. Something else to keep in mind is there are properties in dark chocolate that can lower your bad cholesterol levels (your LDL cholesterol) as they increase your good ones (your HDL cholesterol levels).
9. Dark Chocolate Is Good for Your Gut
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Eighty percent of your immunity is in your gut. And just what role does dark chocolate play in that lil’ tidbit of information? Well, according to science, the fiber and antioxidants that are in cocoa are actually fermented within your digestive tract. That’s helpful intel because that is what helps to nurture the microbes within your body that fight against inflammation. As a bonus, due to dark chocolate’s high fiber content, it can help to make digestion (and elimination) easier, too.
10. It Boosts Your Mood
Speaking of your gut health, did you know that when it’s not in the best state, it can significantly alter your moods? On the flip side, when your gut is good, you can find yourself having more energy and feeling happier as well. It is definitely, something to keep in mind if it’s that time of the month or you’re looking for something to get you through the workday after your lunch break.
11. It Can Help You to Lose Weight
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Although it might sound a bit contradictory, remember that getting all of these benefits from dark chocolate means that you are not eating a dark chocolate Snickers. What you are eating kind of takes a bit of getting used to because the purer dark chocolate is, the more it can kind of taste bittersweet. With that being reiterated, there is science to back up that dark chocolate can even help you lose weight.
Since it can help you to eliminate toxins, reduce hunger cravings, and even improve your insulin sensitivity — and since all of this plays a direct role in shedding a few pounds…if you’re looking for a worthwhile weight-loss snack, dark chocolate is something that you should definitely consider. For this and the wonderful 11 other reasons mentioned above.
12. Dark Chocolate Makes Sex Better
If you’ve heard somewhere that dark chocolate is a surefire aphrodisiac, there is indeed some truth to that. Aside from the fact that the antioxidants in it can give you energy to “get the job done,” there are properties in the chocolate that help to trigger feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin. There are even science-based studies that say women who consume chocolate on a consistent basis tend to have a higher sex drive than those who don’t. And if that doesn’t get you interested in upping your dark chocolate intake, chile, I don’t know what will!
Now, when are you gonna go and treat yo’ self to some? Today…right? Perfect.
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Again, the answer never changes because, if there is one thing that Shellie Reneé Warren is gonna get, it’s 6-8 (sometimes nine) hours of sleep. However, since my chronotype (check out “Ever Wonder What Personality Traits Make Someone A 'Morning Person'?”) means that I like/prefer to write in the wee hours of the morning, sometimes I will sleep for the night for five hours and take a nap in the day. And y’all, that is just fine with me because I am well aware of the fact that napping does everything from give me more energy, heighten my alertness and even make me more creative to decrease stress levels, strengthen immunity, and reduce my chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
My problem is I will oftentimes go “overboard” with my daytime zzz’s. What I mean by that is, in order to get the most out of a nap, they say thatyou shouldn’t sleep for longer than 25 minutes or so; otherwise, you could wake up feeling sluggish (I don’t but…). Also, it can make resting, soundly, at night a bit of a struggle.
So, what are you saying, Shellie? We should get quickies in? Yeah. And it’s funny that the word “quickie” would come up because just like a sex quickie can do wonders for you (and it can — check out “12 Super Solid Reasons To Have A Quickie Every Single Day”), it’s a full-circle moment when I say that something that can improve the quality of your sex life is to have a power nap (a nap that lasts between 10-30 minutes).
Wanna know how the two things correlate? Honestly, it’s no secret that sleep and sex work together to optimize both (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”). Today, though, we’re going to tap into how a nap, specifically, can have you partaking in some of the best sex that you’ve experienced in a minute. I’ll explain.
Naps Reduce Stress
GiphyIf you’re feeling super stressed out right now, you are not alone. There is plenty of data out here that says that most of us are stressed for at least a couple of reasons at a time — and that can impact your sexual health on a few levels. For one thing, it can bring about feelings of depression and/or anxiety. Stress can also throw your hormone levels off (including your cycle) which can weaken your libido. Stress can make you want to put distance between you and your partner (yes, literally).
Stress can also make it challenging to get aroused or to have an orgasm. And just what can help to decrease stress? Taking a nap. Since sleep has a way of helping you to “get off of the clock” and relax a bit, that can lower your stress levels and “reset” your body so that you are calmer — and that, in turn, can do wonders for your sex drive and ultimately your sex life.
Naps Improve Your Mood
GiphyThere is one person in my life, and fairly 80 percent of the time, she’s in a super good mood. Oh, but let that girl go without sleep, and…who is this woman? LOL. There’s research behind why this happens. When a person is sleep-deprived, it messes with their brain chemicals, and that can amplify emotions like anger, restlessness and sadness. In fact, one study revealed that people who had their sleep disrupted throughout the night, they ended up having their positive outlook on life reduced by about 30 percent.
And geeze, who wants to have sex when they’re not feeling very good? Anyway, since serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate your moods, your sleep patterns, and your libido and sleep is what helps to keep it in balance — by taking a nap, not only can it help you to feel better, it can also increase your desire for sex (it can also build up your endurance which is also…sexually beneficial).
Naps Increase Your Focus and Concentration
GiphySomething that some of my clients bring up is how, when it comes to having sex, sometimes the flesh is willing while the spirit is weak because, although the desire for intimacy is there, so much is going on that they aren’t able to get still enough to focus on experiencing copulation with their partner. This also tracks because, when you don’t have enough rest, your brain finds itself not working in harmony and that can make it hard to do everything from approaching life with a sense of flexibility to making necessary decisions.
Certain data also reveal that a lack of rest can cause you to have a really poor attention span and not process things in context (the more you know). So, if you really want to get some yet it’s hard for you to focus long enough to make it happen, ask your bae to lie down with you and take a nap. Between the sleep and the snuggling (check out “Fall's Coming: 8 Wonderful Health Benefits Of Cuddling”) — you may wake up with your mind and body totally on the same page. #wink
Naps Can Make You Feel Better About Your Body
GiphyEven if, overall, you feel really good about your body, I think that we all have moments when we feel less attractive than others — and who wants to have sex when they don’t really feel…very sexy? Well, something else that sleep, in general, can do is increase your confidence in your body.
For one thing, if you want to lose a few pounds, sleep can actually make that happen by helping your body metabolize the glucose (sugar) that’s in it so that you can better manage your appetite. Other studies go on to share that since sleep deprivation can impact one’s mental health and emotional stability in a negative way, of course, getting enough rest would increase body positivity.
Shoot, science even goes so far as to say that insomnia can cause people to have an elevated level of dissatisfaction when it comes to their body image. Don’t take their word for it, though. Look in the mirror before a nap. Then look in a mirror after waking up from me. Do you feel better? I’d be surprised if you don’t.
Makes Your Brain Bigger…Which Could Make Your Orgasms Better
GiphyI saved the best for last by design. Now if you’re wondering how in the world a nap can improve (and possibly increase) your orgasms — oh, there is a method to the madness…trust. For starters, the saying that your biggest sex organ is your brain? That isn’t a myth. Long story less long, the brain is what houses your central nervous system and that is what controls how men and women sexually function (yes, literally).
And since the brain also releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin during sex and brain activity significantly increases in women during sexual activity (especially right before she orgasms) — well, would it trip you out to know that when you take a nap, your brain actually expands? A bigger brain (that’s healthy) can potentially intensify your sexual experiences (and your climaxes) — and who doesn’t want that to go down?
____
Like I said earlier, I never have to be convinced to get a nap in. However, if your sex life has been a bit stagnant lately, you’ve been feeling a little sluggish and you’re not sure what to do — I’m hoping that a nap can get you right.
There’s enough science to prove that it can. All you need to do is give it a shot.
Now where’s your pillow and sleep mask, chile?
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