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Commenting on a 2014 report presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society, one of the Louisiana State University researchers involved in the study, Maria Moore, explained that the good bacteria in your gut, namely Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria, feast on dark chocolate, and grow and ferment it, resulting in anti-inflammatory compounds being released into your system.
These compounds are responsible for the unexpected effect dark chocolate has on your heart. “When these compounds are absorbed by the body, they lessen the inflammation of cardiovascular tissue, reducing the long-term risk of stroke,” explained lead researcher, John Finley (via the American Chemical Society). A 2013 study published in the Frontiers in Pharmacology had similar results. The prebiotic fiber concentration in dark chocolate also has an unexpected link with depression — it can improve this mental health condition.
Additionally, dark chocolate contains a rich concentration of polyphenols. “[Polyphenols] are antioxidants like flavanols which are fertilizer for your gut microbes,” added Dr. Karan Rajan. If you’re looking for a healthy ingredient that promotes the growth of beneficial gut strains while simultaneously reducing pathogenic ones, polyphenols will do the trick, per the expert. There is also some science that links consuming dark chocolate with triggering the satiation cues in your brain — this can be especially helpful when you’re trying to avoid overeating in order to lose weight. Does this mean dark chocolate can be consumed every day without worry?
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