Most parents would scoff at the very notion that chocolate is good for kids.
However, while there is a lot to be said about the link between excess sugar, obesity, and tooth decay, there is also a lot to be backed up scientifically by linking chocolate and healthier brain function, lower cholesterol, and even improved cognitive function. Honestly.
Of course, this is not an excuse to load your kids up with chocolate (all things in moderation) but there are many reasons why it may be time to reconsider the health benefits of this tasty treat. Yummy. So, read on to learn about the 5 health benefits of chocolate.
Increased Happiness
Child mental health is something that needs to be taken seriously, alongside childhood well-being and mental security.
Unsurprising to most adults, even a mug of hot chocolate can help to boost your kid’s mood. Why? Because chocolate helps to release a whole bunch of feel-good neurochemicals like dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin. Thus, ordering chocolate bombs online can be an easy way to help keep your kids feeling better. Just be sure not to add sugar if possible.
Lowered Heart Rate
The whole body is connected, and a child who is feeling stressed, or even an adult who is under stress is going to suffer from higher blood pressure. However, as mentioned before, those feel-good neurochemicals can help to lower heart rate (especially oxytocin), and thus, chocolate can prove a vital part in keeping your kids’ hearts healthy. Just be sure to balance out their chocolate eating with a healthy diet.
Restores and Repairs Blood Vessels
The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology found in a study that men who eat dark chocolate each day have healthier blood vessels compared to groups who either didn’t eat chocolate or ate milk chocolate to excess. You may be wondering why.
Blood vessels that are clogged are usually stiffer around the edges, meaning it is harder for the arteries to stay clear. However, dark chocolate has been found to loosen the edges of the blood vessels and arteries, thus reducing the chances of them becoming clogged or damaged. So, it may be time to try and get your children to eat chocolate that is higher in cocoa and move away from milk-based chocolates. The darker the chocolate is, the more flexible the arteries will be and the healthier the blood vessels.
Increases Good Cholesterol
Anyone who has been on a diet knows that there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. Chocolate that is higher in polyphenols, such as darker chocolate, does not raise blood cholesterol levels and can boost good cholesterol. So, by getting your kids that bar of dark chocolate, you may once again be helping their hearts.
Clearer skin
Okay, so most kids don’t care about having clearer skin, but as the skin is an organ, having clearer, blemish-free skin is a sign of better health. Indeed, cocoa once again comes to the rescue, with studies finding that those who eat dark chocolate do not suffer the same UV damage as those who only ate milk chocolate. Of course, be sure to load your kids up with sunscreen before they go out, as it is not a sun blocker.
