Written By, Christine Chanel

Why wouldn’t you eat more chocolate?

Chocolate has helped us through a lot.

Chocolate gets us through our times of celebration and our times of sadness. It is a staple at our birthday parties to our anniversary dinners. It’s part of lasting memories in our childhood to our old age. Our unhealthy choices to our…healthy ones? Yes, you should DEFINITELY eat more chocolate. That’s right. Chocolate is a great health resource! (Within reason, of course)

Chocolate research continues to reveal health benefits all the time—and the experts have a lot to say about the sweet treat. Who could’ve imagined that such an indulgent snack could be healthy for us? From brain health to silky skin—chocolate is beneficial magic that we still have a lot to learn from. Here are a few great reasons why you should add a little chocolatey sweetness to your everyday moments. Hey, it’s for your health!  

eating Chocolate Makes You Look Good

Dark chocolate made up of at least 70% natural cocoa has multiple beauty benefits. (best news ever, right?) Dark chocolate is made up of a gold mine of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that will leave your skin glowing if consumed in moderation.  Cocoa is a natural source of manganese, which is known to help nutrient absorption. It is also rich in vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E with a side of calcium. Chocolate is a source of nourishment that can replace lost moisture in the skin. Flavonoids found in dark chocolate have been shown to protect women’s skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays, according to German scientists. So, SPF and a chocolate bar to go, please!

Chocolate is Healing for the Soul; eat more of it

There’s no feeling quite like falling in love right? Not quite. Our bodies naturally produce a chemical called phenylethylamine (“the love drug”) when we fall in love, or engage in activities that we enjoy the most as it increases focus. There are over 300 naturally occurring chemicals found in chocolate – one of them being phenylethylamine. This chemical is also found in cacao! The chemical causes a change in blood pressure and increases a feeling of excitement, such as we feel when falling in love. Eating chocolate can increase the level of endorphins released into the brain. This is helpful in decreasing pain and stress. This is why we tend to reach for chocolate in our sad moments, as well as our happy ones.

eat chocolate & Say Goodbye to Insomnia

Cacao contains an amino acid called Tryptophan—Your body uses tryptophan to turn it into a B vitamin called Niacin. Niacin plays a role in creating serotonin—a neurotransmitter that we’re all familiar with. If your body is lacking the correct amounts of serotonin, this could make sleep difficult as your melatonin levels will be below average. This explains why we feel happier or calmer after eating chocolate. Eating a small amount of chocolate before bed can quick start your brain into a more relaxed state and help you get some much deserved zzz’s.

Energy Without the Caffeine

Put down the sugar and dairy saturated processed chocolate and pick up a healthier option to feel the benefits of “shake-free” energy. Natural cacao contains theobromine —a naturally occurring stimulant found in cocoa. It is known to give a longer-lasting yet milder energy spurt without the shakes and jitters that come from caffeine (and, offers no such thing as the dreaded “caffeine crash”.) Cacao is 99.9% caffeine-free so a square of chocolate at the right time of day can supply you with the ultimate pick-me-up you need without feeling any anxiety.

Why do people Eat Chocolate?

Seriously, think of one reason why you wouldn’t eat more chocolate? Start making more delicious, I mean healthier decisions now. Start with RED.