Even though dark chocolate has a lot of possible health benefits, you still might want other options. Here are a few. They can help lower your LDL cholesterol, reduce the risk of blood clots and increase blood flow through the arteries and heart. 6 Dark chocolate contains higher amounts of cocoa than regular milk chocolate, and the taste can range from sweet to bitter and everything in between. Some bars of chocolate may also contain additional ingredients such as soy lecithin, which is an emulsifier used within the food industry to improve the texture of products ( 8).

ORAC stands for oxygen radical absorbance capacity. It’s a measure of the antioxidant activity of foods. For example, a 70% bar of dark chocolate would still contain a moderate amount of sugar, but this falls as the cocoa percentage rises.By weight, cocoa powder contains approximately 2% theobromine, so a 70% or 85% cocoa dark chocolate bar should not be too dissimilar ( 32, 33).

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Pyridoxine is pivotal for brain development and function. It also helps the body make the hormones serotonin (which regulates mood) and norepinephrine (which helps the body cope with stress). One study, in particular, found that eating a small amount of dark chocolate every day during the first trimester improved blood flow to the foetus. Dark chocolate contains theobromine, which has been shown to harden tooth enamel. That means that dark chocolate, unlike most other sweets, lowers your risk of getting cavities if you practice proper dental hygiene. Studies show that eating a small amount of dark chocolate two or three times each week can help lower your blood pressure. Dark chocolate improves blood flow and may help prevent the formation of blood clots. Eating dark chocolate may also prevent arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Flavonoids: These are a group of antioxidant compounds, with dark chocolate being particularly rich in two types — epicatechin and catechin. They have been associated with improved heart health and lower blood pressure.

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Furthermore, a similar four-week study also found that daily dark chocolate intake resulted in lowered LDL oxidation ( 20). Having a high concentration of powerful antioxidants and minerals also means you don't need to eat lots to reap the benefits of cacao. In fact, Patel explains why this may not be a wise idea: