{"id":219329,"date":"2020-07-10T10:50:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T08:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/?p=219329"},"modified":"2025-08-01T15:41:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T13:41:19","slug":"dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Dark chocolate &#8211; what are its health and weight loss benefits?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_72 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits\/#Chocolate_and_its_origin\" title=\"Chocolate and its origin\">Chocolate and its origin<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits\/#Chocolate_and_its_nutrient_content\" title=\"Chocolate and its nutrient content\">Chocolate and its nutrient content<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits\/#Chocolate_and_its_importance_for_health_and_weight_loss\" title=\"Chocolate and its importance for health and weight loss\">Chocolate and its importance for health and weight loss<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>What comes to your mind with the word&nbsp;<b>chocolate<\/b>? Is it&nbsp;<b>a bar<\/b>&nbsp;of your favourite sweet treat,&nbsp;<b>ice cream or dark drink<\/b>? Chocolate is rightly&nbsp;<b>one of the most popular sweets<\/b>&nbsp;and its enthusiasts can be found on every continent. By that I mean even the scientific team in Antarctica. Maybe until now you considered chocolate a sure way to&nbsp;<b>obesity and health problems<\/b>. But what if we tell you that chocolate is basically healthy and even has several health benefits? Read the article about the origin,&nbsp;<b>composition, advantages and disadvantages<\/b>&nbsp;of this&nbsp;<b>\u201cfood of the gods\u201d.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Chocolate_and_its_origin\"><\/span><strong>Chocolate and its origin<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Chocolate came to Europe&nbsp;<b>from the American continent<\/b>&nbsp;when European sailors returned.&nbsp;<b>Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s<\/b>, a well-known Spanish conquistador, is considered one of its discoverers. He personally brought chocolate to&nbsp;<b>King George V in 1528<\/b>, along with other discoveries from Mexico. And what about Columbus? Although Cort\u00e9s brought samples to Europe,&nbsp;<b>Christopher Columbus<\/b>&nbsp;had already encountered cocoa beans before him.&nbsp;<b>In 1502<\/b>, he captured canoes with \u201cstrange-looking almonds,\u201d which he considered to be currency in Mesoamerica. It was, of course, cocoa beans that they might have paid for,&nbsp;<b>because they were of great value to the civilizations of the day<\/b>.&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[1] [2]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1124\" height=\"749\" src=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokolada-a-jej-p\u00f4vod-1124x749.jpg\" alt=\"Chocolate and its origin\" class=\"wp-image-170995\" style=\"width:843px;height:562px\" title=\"Chocolate and its origin\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokolada-a-jej-p\u00f4vod-1124x749.jpg 1124w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokolada-a-jej-p\u00f4vod-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokolada-a-jej-p\u00f4vod-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokolada-a-jej-p\u00f4vod.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1124px) 100vw, 1124px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>For the sake of completeness, the term&nbsp;<b>\u201cMesoamerica\u201d<\/b>&nbsp;refers to the cultural area of&nbsp;<b>Central America and Mexico<\/b>. It is a period of civilizations such as the&nbsp;<b>Maya, Aztecs or Toltecs<\/b>&nbsp;before the arrival of Christopher Columbus and the Spaniards. However, we have to look for the real beginning of&nbsp;<a class=\"ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/fitcheat-protein-chocolate-gymbeam.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">chocolate<\/a>&nbsp;in the Mayan culture, which was probably the first&nbsp;<b>to cultivate cacao as early as 400<\/b>. The Mayans prepared a drink from chocolate, which they called&nbsp;<b>\u201cxocolatl\u201d<\/b>. It was a drink made of ground cocoa beans, which&nbsp;<b>dissolved in water with cinnamon and black pepper.<\/b>&nbsp;They called the drink \u201cfood of the gods\u201d and especially adored it by the&nbsp;<b>Aztec ruler Montezuma II<\/b>, he even indulged in it several times a day. However, it was not a very common raw material,&nbsp;<b>the beans were stored together with gold and precious stones and used as currency.<\/b><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\">[1] [3] [4]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The plant received the official&nbsp;<b>Latin name&nbsp;<i>Theobroma cacao<\/i><\/b>&nbsp;from the Swedish scientist&nbsp;<b>Carl Linnaeus in 1753<\/b>. He used its Aztec origin to name the plant, the name consists of the Latin term&nbsp;<b>\u201ctheobroma\u201d,<\/b>&nbsp;which literally means&nbsp;<b>\u201cfood of the gods\u201d<\/b>, and the Aztec word xocolatl.&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[1]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Can you imagine the world of&nbsp;<b>sweets, confectionery and even foods<\/b>&nbsp;without chocolate today? It has been a part of our lives for several generations and many of us have found their favorite sweet treats in the product range. It is certainly worth mentioning<b>&nbsp;a few sweet milestones in history&nbsp;<\/b><span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[4]<\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1815 \u2013 Conread Van Houten creates&nbsp;<b>cocoa butter<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1879 \u2013 Rudolph Lindt makes the&nbsp;<b>first dark chocolate by the conching method<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1923 \u2013 Frank Mars invents the legendary&nbsp;<b>Milky Way<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1964 \u2013 The first&nbsp;<b>Nutella bottle<\/b>&nbsp;is born<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1974 \u2013 Production of the iconic&nbsp;<b>Kinder egg<\/b>&nbsp;begins<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Consumption of chocolate in the world<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, cocoa is a very popular raw material and cocoa products are&nbsp;<b>popular not only with children<\/b>. Chocolate even has its own international day \u2013&nbsp;<b>November 29<\/b>. According to statistics from 2017, the&nbsp;<b>Swiss<\/b>&nbsp;were at the top in the consumption of chocolate per capita, followed by the&nbsp;<b>Austrians and the Germans<\/b>, but it is not so popular in Japan and China&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[5] [6]<\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Switzerland &#8211; 8.8 kg<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Austria &#8211; 8.1 kg<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Germany &#8211; 7.9 kg<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Russia &#8211; 4.8 kg<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>USA &#8211; 4.4 kg<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>France &#8211; 4.3 kg<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Japan &#8211; 1.2 kg<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>China &#8211; 0.1 kg<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The popularity of chocolate in&nbsp;<b>Switzerland<\/b>&nbsp;is not such a surprise, as the country itself is known for its exceptional quality of chocolate products. If you have ever tasted some of their legendary products, such as&nbsp;<b>Toblerone<\/b>, you will surely agree that it is a high league. Chocolate is the final product, but in the beginning, there is a cocoa tree, on which there are<b>&nbsp;fruits with cocoa beans.<\/b>&nbsp;The fruits of the cacao tree resemble teats,&nbsp;<b>20-30 teats<\/b>&nbsp;grow on one tree per year and there are&nbsp;<b>20-40 beans<\/b>&nbsp;in each of them. If you calculate it, we get&nbsp;<b>400 \u2013 1200 cocoa beans<\/b>&nbsp;straight from one tree. You need about 400 beans to make about&nbsp;<b>450 g of chocolate<\/b>, which means you can make about&nbsp;<b>0.5 to 1.5 kg of chocolate from one tree.<\/b>&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[5] [6]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1124\" height=\"761\" src=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/konzumacia-cokolady-vo-svete-1124x761.jpg\" alt=\"Consumption of chocolate in the world\" class=\"wp-image-171074\" style=\"width:843px;height:571px\" title=\"Consumption of chocolate in the world\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/konzumacia-cokolady-vo-svete-1124x761.jpg 1124w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/konzumacia-cokolady-vo-svete-400x271.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/konzumacia-cokolady-vo-svete-1536x1040.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/konzumacia-cokolady-vo-svete.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1124px) 100vw, 1124px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The downside of the chocolate industry is the<b>&nbsp;low earnings of workers<\/b>&nbsp;in difficult conditions. They earn an average of&nbsp;<b>less than $ 1 a day<\/b>. In addition,&nbsp;<b>the share of farmers<\/b>&nbsp;in the selling price of the chocolate bar is about&nbsp;<b>6%<\/b>, while producers and traders keep 80%. Being a farmer is not easy, as they have to&nbsp;<b>harvest<\/b>&nbsp;themselves, and they also have the uncertainty associated with growing cocoa on their shoulders.&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[5]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Chocolate_and_its_nutrient_content\"><\/span><strong>Chocolate and its nutrient content<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are various chocolates on the market&nbsp;<b>with different contents of cocoa<\/b>&nbsp;and other ingredients. However, chocolate consists of&nbsp;<b>cocoa powder, cocoa butter and sugar<\/b>. Of course, in the case of milk chocolate, it also contains milk in powder form. In cocoa, you can find many healthy substances, such as&nbsp;<b>polyphenols<\/b>, more than&nbsp;<b>green tea and red wine<\/b>. For all, it is important to mention&nbsp;<b>flavonoids<\/b>&nbsp;and their subcategory&nbsp;<b>flavanols \u2013 oligomeric procyanidins and epicatechin<\/b>. Other ingredients include&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/caffeine\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"ek-link\"><b>caffeine<\/b><\/a><b>, theobromine, tryptophan and \u03b2-phenylethylamine.<\/b>&nbsp;<span style=\"color: #ff6600;\" class=\"tadv-color\">[7]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1124\" height=\"671\" src=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/charisse-kenion-tWe8ib-cnXY-unsplash-1124x671.jpg\" alt=\"Chocolate and its nutrient content\" class=\"wp-image-171367\" style=\"width:843px;height:503px\" title=\"Chocolate and its nutrient content\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/charisse-kenion-tWe8ib-cnXY-unsplash-1124x671.jpg 1124w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/charisse-kenion-tWe8ib-cnXY-unsplash-400x239.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/charisse-kenion-tWe8ib-cnXY-unsplash-1536x917.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/charisse-kenion-tWe8ib-cnXY-unsplash-2048x1223.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1124px) 100vw, 1124px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>You can get&nbsp;<b>a better overview of the nutrient content<\/b>&nbsp;in 100 g of cocoa and a comparison with dark or milk chocolate thanks to the following table&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[1]<\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regular\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">COCOA<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">DARK CHOCOLATE<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">MILK CHOCOLATE<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Energy value (kcal \/ kJ)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">335 \/ 1486<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">515 \/ 2155<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">545 \/ 2281<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fats (g)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">25,6<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">33,6<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">36,3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Carbohydrates (g)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">11,5<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">49,7<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">50,5<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sugar (g)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">trace amounts<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">49,7<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">50,5<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Dietary fibre (g)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">&#8211;<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">8<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">3,2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Protein (g)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">20,4<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">6,6<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">7,3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Potassium (mg)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">&#8211;<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">300<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">420<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Phosphorus (mg)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">685<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">186<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">207<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Calcium (mg)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">51<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">51<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">262<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Iron (mg)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">14,3<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">5<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sodium (mg)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">&#8211;<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">11<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">120<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Vitamin B3 (Niacin) (mg)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">1,7<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">0,6<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">0,6<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) (mg)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">0,3<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">0,07<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">0,39<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) (mg)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">0,08<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">0,07<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">0,09<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Vitamin A (\u00b5g)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">7<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">9<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">25<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Phenols (mg)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">996 &#8211; 3781<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">579<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">160<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Chocolate_and_its_importance_for_health_and_weight_loss\"><\/span><strong>Chocolate and its importance for health and weight loss<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Treatment with chocolate?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Chocolate is nowadays an important part of sweet shelves in stores. But did you know that chocolate was ever&nbsp;<b>prescribed for medical purposes as well?<\/b>&nbsp;Attitudes towards chocolate have changed over time, the euphoric effects of chocolate did not take long and quickly spread to Western Europe. According to the church, drinking chocolate was&nbsp;<b>a devaluation of religious fasting<\/b>, which changed in 1662, when Cardinal Brancaccio recognized that drinking chocolate was not an obstacle to fasting. Until then, the people of Europe had the opportunity to enjoy this delicacy&nbsp;<b>only for medical reasons<\/b>. This approach may be due to the Hippocratic-Galenic approach to treatment. This approach strongly influenced medical science during the 17th and 18th centuries and was treated exclusively by the&nbsp;<b>allopathic system<\/b>. Can you imagine today that your doctor would prescribe cold substances for a \u201cdark\u201d disease and wet medicines or meals for dry diseases?&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[8]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1124\" height=\"749\" src=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/lie\u010dba-\u010dokol\u00e1dou-1124x749.jpg\" alt=\"Treatment with chocolate\" class=\"wp-image-171087\" style=\"width:843px;height:562px\" title=\"Treatment with chocolate\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/lie\u010dba-\u010dokol\u00e1dou-1124x749.jpg 1124w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/lie\u010dba-\u010dokol\u00e1dou-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/lie\u010dba-\u010dokol\u00e1dou-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/lie\u010dba-\u010dokol\u00e1dou.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1124px) 100vw, 1124px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Proof that <a href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/bio-cocoa-powder-vanavita.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cocoa<\/a> was used for medical purposes is the <b>manuscript of Badianus<\/b> <i>(Badianius Manuscript)<\/i> from 1552, which contained medicinal plants. The file includes <b>Mexican diseases<\/b>, their treatment and nutritional problems. It also mentions cocoa and its derivatives, <b>which have been used as a nutrient or medicine in the treatment of sore throat, constipation, fatigue or hemorrhoids<\/b>.<b> <\/b><span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[8]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><b>In the middle of the 19th century,<\/b>&nbsp;special chocolate was recommended for people after severe acute illnesses, patients with chronic&nbsp;<b>pulmonary catarrh or people suffering from fatigue<\/b>. The ingredients of this analeptic chocolate were&nbsp;<b>cocoa from Caracca,&nbsp;<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/bio-ceylon-cinnamon-powder-gymbeam.html\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"ek-link\"><b>Ceylon cinnamon<\/b><\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<b>Avana sugar<\/b>&nbsp;or \u201cpotato flour\u201d. It is difficult to say whether it was an exceptional product only for a small group of society, and to what extent it alleviated the difficulties. What would you say if you took a similar delicious medicine at the pharmacy today after leaving the clinic?&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[8]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n    <link href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/wp-gymbeam-blog-theme\/css\/vue\/index.css\" rel=\"preload\" as=\"style\">\n    <link href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/wp-gymbeam-blog-theme\/js\/vue\/chunk-vendors.js\" rel=\"preload\" as=\"script\">\n    <link href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/wp-gymbeam-blog-theme\/js\/vue\/index.js\" rel=\"preload\" as=\"script\">\n    <link data-no-optimize=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/wp-gymbeam-blog-theme\/css\/vue\/index.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\">\n\n    <h2>\n        You might be interested in these products:    <\/h2>\n\n    <div data-app=\"recommended\" data-products=\"30539,36082,38971,44590,46156,37642,37549,258,28393,39401\" ><\/div>\n\n    <script data-no-optimize=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/wp-gymbeam-blog-theme\/js\/vue\/chunk-vendors.js\"><\/script>\n    <script data-no-optimize=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/wp-gymbeam-blog-theme\/js\/vue\/index.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Benefits for health and weight reduction<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rich in nutrients<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you a fan of quality <a href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/90-dark-chocolate-gymbeam.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dark chocolate<\/a> with <b>at least 70% cocoa content?<\/b> Consumption of quality chocolate is beneficial for humans for its nutrients, but even in this case, everything in moderation. <b>101 g 70 \u2013 85% dark chocolate<\/b> represents about <b>600 calories, 24 g sugar and 43 g fat<\/b>, it should not be forgotten. At the same time, however, <b>100 g of chocolate<\/b> can significantly increase your intake of minerals and fiber. 100 g is not small and you should definitely not eat it daily, but it should be added that you will find <b>11 g of fiber or 67% and 58% of the recommended daily dose<\/b> of<b> <\/b><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" class=\"ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/iron-120-caps-gymbeam.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><b>iron<\/b><\/a><b> and <\/b><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" class=\"ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/magnesium\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><b>magnesium<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b> <span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[9] [10]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chocolate and blood pressure<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><b>A 2017 study<\/b>&nbsp;looked at the&nbsp;<b>effect of chocolate on blood pressure<\/b>&nbsp;and vascular function. Chocolate is rich in&nbsp;<b>polyphenols<\/b>, and in this context, several epidemiological studies suggest some relationship between daily&nbsp;<b>cocoa consumption and better cardiovascular outcomes.<\/b>&nbsp;Clinical intervention studies demonstrate the positive effects of&nbsp;<b>flavanol-rich chocolate or cocoa<\/b>&nbsp;in reducing blood pressure and improving vascular function. The importance of chocolate consumption in lowering blood pressure and improving endothelial function has been demonstrated not only in people suffering from i<b>schemic heart disease, heart failure or hypertension<\/b>, but also in healthy people. Healthy blood vessels and proper blood pressure are very important for health and maintaining optimal weight. The general belief&nbsp;<b>that chocolate soothes is probably not just an excuse for chocolate lovers<\/b>.&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[11]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beneficial for digestion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the advantages of chocolate is its&nbsp;<b>prebiotic property.<\/b>&nbsp;Prebiotics are specific substances that perform the function of food for&nbsp;<b>\u201cbeneficial\u201d bacteria in our digestive system<\/b>. Chocolate has the ability to act as a prebiotic, thus promoting the growth of \u201cgood\u201d bacteria. Proper health of digestion is very important for health and weight reduction, because the quality of digestion also depends on the body\u2019s ability to&nbsp;<b>absorb nutrients<\/b>. Among other things, a small dose&nbsp;<b>before and after a meal \u201ctriggers\u201d hormones<\/b>&nbsp;that inform the brain that you are already full. Insufficient functioning of digestion is a common problem, and therefore it is certainly more pleasant to support digestion with this delicacy. Try the trick with satiety \u2013 get sweet as an unconventional \u201cfirst course\u201d, maybe it will have an effect on you.&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[12]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1124\" height=\"749\" src=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokol\u00e1da-je-prospe\u0161n\u00e1-pre-tr\u00e1venie-1124x749.jpg\" alt=\"Chocolate is beneficial for digestion\" class=\"wp-image-171022\" style=\"width:843px;height:562px\" title=\"Chocolate is beneficial for digestion\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokol\u00e1da-je-prospe\u0161n\u00e1-pre-tr\u00e1venie-1124x749.jpg 1124w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokol\u00e1da-je-prospe\u0161n\u00e1-pre-tr\u00e1venie-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokol\u00e1da-je-prospe\u0161n\u00e1-pre-tr\u00e1venie-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokol\u00e1da-je-prospe\u0161n\u00e1-pre-tr\u00e1venie.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1124px) 100vw, 1124px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Chocolate acts as a prebiotic, but it can also be a probiotic. This is evidenced by the results of research from 2018,&nbsp;<b>which dealt with dark chocolate enriched with encapsulated probiotic bacteria<\/b>&nbsp;\u2013 Lactobacillus plantarum. According to the results, the bacteria in the chocolate did not affect its&nbsp;<b>appearance, texture or aroma<\/b>, and in addition they had good viability for&nbsp;<b>180 days at 20\u00b0 C<\/b>.&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[13]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you interested in the importance of probiotics for health? Everything you need can be found in the article \u2013&nbsp;<a class=\"ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/probiotics-the-importance-of-beneficial-bacteria-for-the-immunity-and-general-health-of-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Probiotics: the importance of beneficial bacteria for immunity and overall health of athletes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking of nutrient absorption, a 2018 study examined the relationship between dark&nbsp;<b>chocolate and blood sugar levels<\/b>. The results suggest that&nbsp;<b>48 g of 70% dark chocolate<\/b>&nbsp;may reduce insulin resistance and fasting glucose levels.&nbsp;<b>48 g of chocolate per day is not enough<\/b>, but the ability to prevent resistance and other complications is worth attention.&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[10]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you want to know more about insulin resistance? Read our article \u2013&nbsp;<a class=\"ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/insulin-sensitivity-how-to-increase-it-and-prevent-insulin-resistance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Insulin sensitivity \u2013 how to increase it and prevent insulin resistance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chocolate and cholesterol<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Another benefit of dark chocolate, which affects overall health, is the effect on HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. Indeed, cocoa powder has been shown to significantly reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol in men. In addition, it increased the level of \u201cgood\u201d HDL cholesterol and reduced the level of \u201cbad\u201d LDL cholesterol. Wondering why we mention oxidized LDL cholesterol? This means that cholesterol reacted with free radicals, making it reactive and capable of damaging tissues in the body. For example, not only in general can the lining of the arteries in the heart be damaged.&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[9]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1124\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokol\u00e1da-a-cholesterol-1124x667.jpg\" alt=\"Chocolate and cholesterol\" class=\"wp-image-170969\" style=\"width:843px;height:500px\" title=\"Chocolate and cholesterol\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokol\u00e1da-a-cholesterol-1124x667.jpg 1124w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokol\u00e1da-a-cholesterol-400x238.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokol\u00e1da-a-cholesterol-1536x912.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u010dokol\u00e1da-a-cholesterol.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1124px) 100vw, 1124px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chocolate and psyche<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Chocolate&nbsp;<\/b>is not just a source of&nbsp;<b>polyphenols, vitamins and minerals<\/b>. The vast majority of people reach for chocolate as a result of the desire for sweets. You may not be surprised by the results of&nbsp;<b>a study that showed that chocolate accounted for 49% of all appetite in 25 participants<\/b>. The taste for chocolate was more pronounced in women, especially<b>&nbsp;during the premenstrual period.&nbsp;<\/b><span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[14]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Another study focused on chocolate and depression,&nbsp;<b>involving 120 high school female students who love chocolate<\/b>. According to the results, a depressed mood&nbsp;<b>can increase the taste of chocolate<\/b>. However, the truth remains that the reasons for this taste in emotional difficulties&nbsp;<b>are not clear.<\/b>&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[14]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>According to a systematic review from 2013,&nbsp;<b>5 out of 8 studies showed the effect of chocolate<\/b>&nbsp;on improving mood or alleviating negative feelings. However, this is not all,&nbsp;<b>3 out of 8 studies also showed an improvement in cognitive abilities<\/b>.&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[12] [15]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1124\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/IMG_7215-1-1124x750.jpg\" alt=\"Chocolate and weight loose\" class=\"wp-image-171381\" style=\"width:843px;height:563px\" title=\"Chocolate and psyche\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/IMG_7215-1-1124x750.jpg 1124w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/IMG_7215-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/IMG_7215-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/IMG_7215-1-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1124px) 100vw, 1124px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>So what does that mean? Chocolate is&nbsp;<b>a pleasant \u201cantidepressant\u201d<\/b>&nbsp;that makes it&nbsp;<b>easier to handle difficult situations.<\/b>&nbsp;Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the Aztec ruler Montezuma II. so he adored chocolate. In addition, the&nbsp;<b>mental state is important for the motivation to exercise<\/b>&nbsp;and maintain the right body weight. A person with depressed feelings will probably not be enthusiastic about&nbsp;<b>voluntary physical activity and motivated to lose weight.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Daily dose of chocolate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"864\" height=\"1124\" src=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/denn\u00e1-d\u00e1vka-\u010dokol\u00e1dy-864x1124.jpg\" alt=\"Daily dose of chocolate\" class=\"wp-image-171035\" title=\"Daily dose of chocolate\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/denn\u00e1-d\u00e1vka-\u010dokol\u00e1dy-864x1124.jpg 864w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/denn\u00e1-d\u00e1vka-\u010dokol\u00e1dy-308x400.jpg 308w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/denn\u00e1-d\u00e1vka-\u010dokol\u00e1dy-1181x1536.jpg 1181w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/denn\u00e1-d\u00e1vka-\u010dokol\u00e1dy-1575x2048.jpg 1575w, https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/denn\u00e1-d\u00e1vka-\u010dokol\u00e1dy-scaled.jpg 1969w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>You have learned all the benefits, but the question remains, how much cocoa or dark chocolate can a person take per day so as not to harm them even more.&nbsp;<b>An article from 2011&nbsp;<\/b>presents the results of a study that has the answer.&nbsp;<b>A daily dose of 25 g&nbsp;<\/b>of dark chocolate slightly increased body weight after three months. However,&nbsp;<b>a daily intake of 6 g did not lead to weight gain.&nbsp;<\/b><span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[14]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In another study, participants consumed<b>&nbsp;20 g of chocolate with 90% or 55% cocoa content for 30 days.&nbsp;<\/b>There was a reduction in blood pressure in both groups, but more in participants who ate 90% chocolate. The recommendation in the study\u2019s conclusions is that<b>&nbsp;20 g of dark chocolate (90%) a day can have a beneficial effect on your arteries.<\/b>&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[16]<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Chocolate is definitely useful in the right amount, but think of calories as well as sugar and fat content.&nbsp;<b>The 2011 survey<\/b>&nbsp;did not look at quantity, but at frequency. The total number of participants was&nbsp;<b>114,000<\/b>&nbsp;and the following facts were found for people who ate&nbsp;<b>more than twice a week<\/b>&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[17]<\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>37% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>31% lower risk of diabetes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>29% lower risk of stroke<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For the sake of completeness, it should be added that the said summary<b>&nbsp;did not distinguish between dark and milk chocolate and included its various forms.<\/b>&nbsp;<span class=\"tadv-color\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\">[17]<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Chocolate, and especially dark chocolate, has several benefits for maintaining overall health and promoting weight loss. Last but not least, chocolate is a raw material that offers an incredible number of options on the market, and everyone will find something for themselves. Do you want your friends&nbsp;<b>to learn about chocolate and its importance for health and weight loss? Feel free to support the article by sharing.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/chocolates\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"category-button\">\n\t<span class=\"label\">\n\t\tChocolates\t<\/span>\n\t<svg class=\"icon-cart\" focusable=\"false\">\n\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#icon-cart\"><\/use>\n\t<\/svg>\n<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/healthy-food\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"category-button\">\n\t<span class=\"label\">\n\t\tHealthy food\t<\/span>\n\t<svg class=\"icon-cart\" focusable=\"false\">\n\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#icon-cart\"><\/use>\n\t<\/svg>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dark chocolate is a delicious delicacy full of other beneficial substances. By consuming it, you will supplement your body with minerals, fibre and flavonoids, but it can also help maintain blood pressure, digestion and good mood. Learn about the history, composition and benefits of &#8220;food of the gods&#8221; for health and weight reduction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":171413,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":10,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[97],"tags":[7691,7619,7631,7349],"filter_section":[],"filter_attribute":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-219329","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness-tips","8":"tag-chocolate","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-healthy-lifestyle","11":"tag-nutrition","12":"h-entry","13":"hentry"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Dark chocolate - what are its health and weight loss benefits? - GymBeam Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Chocolate is not only a sweet treat, but its consumption will supplement the necessary minerals and fibre, and support weight loss, blood pressure or digestion.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dark chocolate - what are its health and weight loss benefits? - GymBeam Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Chocolate is not only a sweet treat, but its consumption will supplement the necessary minerals and fibre, and support weight loss, blood pressure or digestion.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"GymBeam Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-07-10T08:50:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-01T13:41:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/cokolada-chudnutie-zdravie-clanok-2-min.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tom\u00e1\u0161 Ile\u010dko\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Tom\u00e1\u0161 Ile\u010dko\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Tom\u00e1\u0161 Ile\u010dko\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/1c8e12e291f800b3ee6626459bf8cf45\"},\"headline\":\"Dark chocolate &#8211; what are its health and weight loss benefits?\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-07-10T08:50:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-01T13:41:19+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits\/\"},\"wordCount\":2563,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/cokolada-chudnutie-zdravie-clanok-2-min.png\",\"keywords\":[\"chocolate\",\"health\",\"healthy lifestyle\",\"nutrition\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Diet and healthy lifestyle\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/gymbeam.com\/blog\/dark-chocolate-what-are-its-health-and-weight-loss-benefits\/\",\"name\":\"Dark chocolate - what are its health and weight loss benefits? 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