Chocolate makes life sweeter. It’s prized for both its luscious taste, and health benefits for the mind and body. You can bite into it, melt it, drink it or bake with it for a rich delectable treat.June is National Candy Month, though chocolate really rules in October for Halloween, December for the holiday season, February for Valentine’s Day and spring for Easter.
“Additionally, flavonols, a type of flavonoids in dark chocolate, may affect the function of the immune system by reducing inflammation,” Politi tells TODAY.com.Both experts recommend choosing chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content because it will have less added sugar and more phytochemicals than chocolate with less cocoa.
Could it make you smarter? There’s a “surprisingly powerful” correlation between chocolate intake and the number of Nobel laureates in various countries — perhaps because chocolate “enhances cognitive function,” a from a variety of brands in 2022, it found cadmium and lead in all of them — two heavy metals harmful to health.
If heavy metals are a concern, Politi suggests choosing milk chocolate, or varying both milk and dark. If it’s too bitter, try putting two small pieces in your mouth and let them melt over your tongue, which helps discover the complexity of the dark chocolate flavor, Politi advises.