Dark Chocolate Relaxes Blood Vessels and Boosts Mood—How to Maximize Benefits

Cupid’s favorite currency is chock-full of health potential, beginning with its mineral and polyphenol content.

Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock

Everyone’s favorite indulgence is more than just a treat. Dark chocolate is rich in nutrients and antioxidants and has proven benefits for heart and brain health. Its long-standing association with pleasure and Valentine’s Day isn’t merely cultural, but also biological: Research suggests that chocolate can lead to improved mood.

“Think of chocolate as a functional indulgence,” Serena Poon, a chef and nutritionist, told The Epoch Times.

Key Nutrients

What makes chocolate more than a pleasurable treat comes down to what lies within the cocoa bean. Much of chocolate’s health potential starts with its mineral and polyphenol content.