Is Dark Chocolate Good for Us?

Dark chocolate is very popular with vegans. Because it usually contains no milk. But is it also good for our health?

Chocolate makes you fat because it contains a lot of sugar and fat. But what about dark chocolate? Its reputation (not only among vegans) is significantly better than that of milk chocolate. One reason for this is the flavanols in the cocoa mass. These secondary plant substances are said to make the vessels more elastic and have a positive effect on blood pressure.

Long-term study with 20,000 participants

In fact, consuming a small piece of chocolate – especially if it’s dark chocolate with more than 50 percent cocoa solids – can have a slight positive effect on our health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This is the result of a study by the German Institute for Nutrition Research (DIfE). A research team evaluated a long-term study of 20,000 participants. The scientists published their results in the specialist journal “European Heart Journal” .

Chocolate – only eat in moderation

However, the effect of enjoying chocolate is small. In addition, the high sugar-fat content in chocolate can also ensure that the positive effects are nullified. In any case, dark chocolate does not make you slim. At most, dubious studies are circulating on this. Researchers therefore advise eating chocolate – including dark chocolate – only in moderation.