It's nice to indulge sometimes. Especially when what you indulge in has sweet consequences. What guilt-free pleasure am I referring to, you ask? Chocolate. 

What if I told you that chocolate is actually good for you? And that you should eat it everyday? But before you dive head first into that Matilda Chocolate Cake, hear me out on what type you should eat, how much and what effects it has on your body. Dark chocolate specifically, has some fantastic benefits that I was quite excited to find out about.

Why is dark chocolate good for you?

In the right form, chocolate is a superfood. But just like olive oil, not all chocolate is created equal. To take advantage of the health benefits, it's recommended to consume chocolate with 70-85% cocoa - aka dark chocolate.

Here are some proven benefits of consuming dark chocolate in moderation (about 1-2 ounces per day is recommended).

• Packed with good fat - Dark chocolate contains healthy levels of saturated and monounsaturated fat, with small amounts of polyunsaturated fat. Getting proper amounts of monounsaturated fat is vital for a healthy diet and studies show that consuming it can actually help you lose weight!
  
  
• Rich in antioxidants - Cocoa and dark chocolate contain more disease fighting antioxidants like polyphenols and flavonoids than many other foods. The higher the percentage of cocoa, the more antioxidants it contains! These antioxidants protect you from disease and fights free radicals in the body. 
  
  
• Improves heart health - Because of the high amount of flavonoids in dark chocolate, it is proven to help lower blood pressure and improve blood flow to the heart and brain. Chocolate consumption is associated with a nearly 40% reduced risk for heart disease and a 30% reduced risk for a stroke.

These are just a few of the great health benefits of dark chocolate. For more benefits of dark chocolate, check out the articles below:

7 Proven Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Awesome Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Where does dark chocolate fit in with Queen Creek Olive Mill?

Along with our mission to produce high quality extra virgin olive oil, we also strive to lead healthier lifestyles and teach our customers to do the same. 

That's why we've created a guilt-free Olive Oil Dark Chocolate Bar that combines two of our favorite, heart-healthy things: dark chocolate and extra virgin olive oil! I'm telling you that this chocolate bar is absolutely delicious.

If you aren't aware of all the amazing benefits of extra virgin olive oil, you can Download our What is EVOO Ebook for FREE here!

Made for us by Cerreta Candy Company in Glendale, Arizona, these scrumptious bars are perfect for your daily dose of sweet, heart-healthy dark chocolate.

Did you know about the health benefits of dark chocolate?
Let us know your favorite flavors of chocolate bars in the comments below!