As Easter Day is swiftly approaching, kids are probably most excited to celebrate the ‘egg-filled’ weekends with the Easter egg hunt since Good Friday. While Easter eggs are typically the painted or dyed chicken eggs, but the time has changed that Easter eggs are now kid’s favourite candies and chocolate eggs with colourful dye. Truth to told, our favourite part of Easter Day is indulging in the cute chocolate eggs that we get to eat. Forget about the calories, enjoy the Easter weekend with these health benefits of chocolate goodness!
1. High in antioxidants
Chocolate contains flavonoids which are good for our heart and it helps preventing the onset of cancer. However, it is reportedly the higher chocolate chocolate content is better as it gives a significant boost in antioxidants in moderate doses. Hence, as compared to milk chocolate, dark chocolate is great for reducing blood pressure.
2. Boosts Mood
Ever wondered why most people tend to eat chocolate when they’re feeling down? Chocolate is reportedly to make people feel less stressed and it should be eaten slowly to savour its sweet taste. It is also reportedly that chocolate eases the symptoms of PMS and (source)
3. Ease the pain of hangovers
After a night of heavy drinking, chocolate helps to raises our blood sugar that become low in the next morning. The Vitamin B in chocolate reduced the severity of a hangover.
4. Fills us up
One of the many reasons that people who tend to eat chocolate stays skinny is because they eat less after just eating a piece of dark chocolate. Chocolate is rich in fiber that can keeps us feel full and it can reduce the cravings for sweet, salty and fatty foods too. (source)
5. Promotes fertility
As Easter eggs and rabbits are the symbols of fertility, chocolate was also first enjoyed as fertility-promoting beverage by the ancient Mayans. It symbolized life, fertility, health and royalty as dark chocolate without sugar is rich in vitamins and minerals that are essential for a healthy pregnancy. (source)
6. Protect our skin
Chocolate spa is typically popular in Japan as chocolate can improve their skin condition. This is because the flavonoids in the dark chocolate protect the skin from UV damage from the sun. In fact, it releases endorphins that make us feel good in the end of the day.
7. Boosts Heart Health
Dark chocolate can helps to reduce cardiovascular risk as it helps to lower down blood pressure and improve blood flow. In fact, dark chocolate has lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and it has inflammation-fighting properties.
8. Cough supressant
Chocolate contains theobromine which helps to reduce activity of the vagus nerve that triggers the coughs. BBC reported that scientists were creating a drug containing theobromine to replace cough syrups that has risky side effects.
9. Reduce the risk chronic illness
Regularly eating chocolate helps to reduce the risk of chronic illness especially heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. The chocolate increases insulin sensitivity that may help reduce the risk of diabetes and a Swedish study found that women who ate chocolate had a lower risk of stroke than those who don’t
10. Improve our vision
As chocolate has the ability to improve our blood flow, the researchers at the University of Reading hypothesized has found out that chocolate may also give vision a boost due to the increase of blood flow to the retina. In fact, chocolate gives off the same effect as caffeine as it helps us to stay awake and alert. (source)
