5 Benefits of Dark Chocolate for Seniors

 

Many seniors sacrificed their love for chocolate as this tasty treat has high amounts of fat and sugar inside. But here’s some good news for chocolate fans and lovers out there: according to science, there’s a specific kind of chocolate that’s loaded with nutrients that seniors need—it’s dark chocolate!

Here are some of the health benefits of dark chocolate that you can share with your fellow residents in your senior assisted living.

 

1.     Boosts Memory

If you’re a fan of chocolates, then you will definitely notice the slightly bitter taste of dark chocolate compared to its other counterparts. But the bitter flavor is actually from the 80% cocoa that it contains, which is also what makes it a superfood.

Studies have shown that dark chocolate has high levels of flavonols that can help improve your cognitive function, specifically your memory.

Furthermore, this tasty dessert has the power to keep the brain healthy and ward off neurological disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

 

2.     Great Source of Antioxidants

Another “brain healthy” benefit that a bar of dark chocolate can give you are the powerful antioxidants it contains. In fact, research revealed that it has significantly higher antioxidant levels than other superfoods, like blueberries and acai berries.

With loads of antioxidants, you can now fight off the toxins and free radicals coursing through your body and brain. Plus, antioxidants also help protect your cells from aging and preserve their health.

 

3.     Prevents Heart Disease

Unlike its milky counterpart, dark chocolate does NOT contain saturated fats and has extremely low calorie and sugar content. However, these attributes are not the only heart-healthy features of dark chocolate. Here are some of them:

●        It improves blood circulation, thus preventing seniors from developing hypertension.

●        It helps hypertensive patients by lowering their blood pressure.

●  It promotes HDL (good cholesterol) production and prevents LDL (bad cholesterol) from increasing.

Therefore, dark chocolate ultimately protects you from fatal heart diseases, such as atherosclerosis and heart attack.

 

4.     Maintains Oral Health

Many seniors suffer from tooth decay and tooth loss, which, surprisingly, is not due to aging. Instead, this declining oral health (or periodontal disease) is due to the gradual build-up of plaque in the teeth and gums, which usually goes undetected and untreated in seniors.

Fortunately, it’s treatable and can be prevented by eating foods rich in antioxidants, like dark chocolate. This delicious snack can fight off cavities, plaque build-up and even neutralize bacteria that cause bad breath.

So start sharing some dark chocolate bars in your senior assisted living, whether it’s Valentine’s day or a regular Friday.

5.     Improves Mood

Eating chocolates can certainly uplift your mood and make a bad day better, right? But this pleasurable feeling that you get is not just because of its yummy taste.

Dark chocolate actually contains mood-enhancing chemicals (flavonols) that can help stimulate the release of your happy hormones, which then puts you in a good mood. It can also lower your stress levels and even make you feel calmer and more relaxed.