what are the health benefits of dark chocolate
3. It can protect your skin: German researchers found that the flavonoids in dark chocolate absorb UV light, help protect and increase blood flow to the skin, and improve skinâs hydration and complexion. For all of its health benefits, though, dark chocolate does contain a lot of calories.
1. It can help prevent heart disease: Like tea, dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which are compounds that act as antioxidants. Flavonoids protect cells from harmful moleculesâcalled free radicalsâthat are produced when the body breaks down food or is exposed to sunlight or smoke.
Dark Chocolate Lowers Blood Pressure. Dark chocolate -- not white chocolate -- lowers high blood pressure, say Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Cologne, Germany. Their report appears in the Aug. 27 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.