Health Benefits
Health Benefits
Not to turn this into a science paper, but...
The roughly 100 billion nerve cells between our ears releases a host of neurotransmitters — endorphins, dopamine and the like — when we eat chocolate, and they’re the ones that make us feel happy. Chalk one up for science! Plus — and this is so amazing — there’s evidence that dark chocolate can help reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke, and improves cognitive abilities. Take that, spinach.
All of which begs the question: If dark chocolate isn’t a superfood, what is?
The numbers don’t lie: A 100 gram chunk of dark chocolate with 70-85% cocoa contains 11 grams of fiber, in addition to high daily values of Iron (66%), Magnesium (57%), Copper (196%) and Manganese (85%). And who couldn’t use more Manganese? Plus there’s plenty of potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium to boot. Of course we’re not suggesting you chow down 100 grams of dark chocolate every day, because those nutrients contain 600 calories and middling amounts of sugar. All things in moderation, as the saying goes.
But there’s plenty of good news to go around, all backed by research. Cocoa’s fatty acid profile, for example, consists primarily of heart-health oleic acid (also found in olive oil), and one study has shown dark chocolate to possess more antioxidant activity than other fruits, even blueberries.
Additionally, dark chocolate has been shown to improve blood flow to the brain. If there’s a downside to that we don’t know what it could possibly be, but the upside is improved attention, verbal learning and memory in young adults, and a potential reduction in milld cognitive impairment in older adults.
On top of all that, research has shown the benefits of dark chocolate extend to a balanced immune system. It also improves the body’s use of insulin, potentially combatting diabetes. And it can elevate athletic performance through improved circulation — the result of increased nitric oxide in the blood.
Delicious and nutritious — a rare combination.
So we like to think that Heavens to Betsy Fudge Sauce is not only super (with all the potential health benefits of dark chocolate) but amazing, delectable, luscious, rich, decadent and a lot of other ten-dollar words, including two that we hear more than just about any other; complex and sophisticated. That oughta make anyone who savors a spoonful pretty darn happy, whether it’s the endorphins or taste buds weighing in.
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