The ketogenic diet is a beneficial health program for weight loss and other fitness goals. But, as with different food regimens like it, it is only as good as its execution. This fact could be a problem for some people who have food cravings from time to time, especially when it comes to chocolates.
While traditional chocolates are not suitable for keto dieters and fitness enthusiasts in general, there are ways to satisfy your craving without breaking your diet. One is by eating Keto chocolate instead.
What Are Keto-friendly Chocolates?
Keto chocolates are protein-filled bars high in cocoa, low on sugar and carb, and free from gluten. Some brands contain whey and polyunsaturated fats. They can be consumed as an after-dinner dessert or to occasionally satisfy your craving for sweets.
What Are Its Health Benefits?
Keto chocolates offer an excellent way for people to indulge from time to time while sticking to their diet. They also give a host of health benefits, some of which are discussed below.
1. An Excellent Source of Antioxidants
Reputable Keto chocolate brands consist of 32% cocoa or more. Cocoa is known in the health industry for being an excellent source of antioxidants as it contains a much wider variety of powerful antioxidants compared to other foods.
Studies show that cocoa has a very high oxygen radical absorbance capacity or ORAC, a measure of foods’ antioxidant activity. Experts believe that this attribute is due to the biologically active organic compounds in cocoa. This includes polyphenols, flavanols, catechins, and other similar substances.
2. It Can Help Lower the Blood Pressure
Consuming Keto chocolate can help with blood flow and lower blood pressure. It is rich in flavanols, which can stimulate the endothelium, the lining of the arteries, to produce nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps the arteries relax, which leads to the reduction of resistance to blood flow and the lowering of blood pressure.
3. Helps Reduce High Cholesterol
Keto chocolates can help reduce the risk of heart diseases by lowering high cholesterol. Based on a study, cocoa can significantly reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol in men. It also showed that cocoa has the ability to raise the HDL and reduce the LDL for people with high cholesterol.
LDL or low-density lipoprotein is known for being a “bad cholesterol.” High LDL leads to atherosclerosis, a condition characterised by the accumulation of fatty acids in the arteries. This narrows the passage for blood circulation, increasing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other heart conditions.
4. It Helps Enhance Brain Function
Keto chocolates are useful for weight loss or building muscles, but they have much more to offer. They can also help improve certain brain functions. Based on a study done on healthy subjects, consuming foods rich in flavonol leads to significantly improved blood flow to the brain.
In another study, cocoa was proven to improve cognitive function in the elderly. This includes those with mental impairment. The results showed that regular consumption of cocoa-rich food helped enhance their verbal fluency and reduced the risk factors for many diseases.
5. It is Free from Gluten
Traditional chocolates typically contain gluten as most of them use malt, barley, and flour. This is a problem for people who are sensitive to gluten or have celiac disease. By consuming keto-friendly chocolates, you do not have to worry about the effects of gluten, which include symptoms like fatigue and intestinal damage.
