Hot chocolate is a loved beverage, especially in the colder months, for it provides an element of warmth and comfort. However, this delectable drink has more than just warm comfort; this also can be beneficial to an individual's health. From heart health to mood upliftment, you can have the most delicious and nutritious addition for your daily routine with hot chocolate. Let's look at the many health benefits of hot chocolate and why you might want to add it to your wellness routine.
1. Rich in Antioxidants
One of the primary benefits of hot chocolate is its antioxidants' impressive potential. The key ingredient in hot chocolate, cocoa is overflowing with flavonoids-an extremely potent antioxidant with a wide variety of health benefits. NIH research says that cocoa's antioxidants can gain a foothold in the reduction of inflammation, acceleration of blood flow, and the lowering of blood pressure.
Flavonoids are known to play a role in scavenging free radicals, harmful particles that contribute to oxidative stress and cellular damage. By fighting oxidative stress, antioxidants may lower your susceptibility to chronic diseases - cancer and heart disease. The interesting fact is that hot chocolate has a higher antioxidant level than green tea or red wine - an excellent beverage to boost your antioxidant levels.
Maximizing Antioxidant Levels
To boost the antioxidant power of your hot chocolate, look for products that use high-quality cocoa with minimal added sugars. For example, NutriWise Classic Hot Chocolate provides you with rich cocoa in a low-calorie format so you can enjoy these health benefits without sacrificing flavor. Check out the NutriWise Classic Hot Chocolate Canister for a healthy choice that does not sacrifice taste.
2. Supports Heart Health
It can therefore be said that routine consumption of hot chocolate benefits heart health. The flavonoids from the cocoa improve cardiovascular functions as they make blood vessels elastic, thus reducing the level of blood pressure and enhancing blood circulation. Research studies indicate that intake of cocoa reduces heart disease risks as it increases and stabilizes smooth blood flow and cholesterol levels over time.
Cocoa flavonoids, as it works by increasing the levels of nitric oxide in blood vessels, promote relaxation and cause arteries to open with blood flowing freely. It reduces the risk of developing a particular lifestyle disease called hypertension, which is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, cocoa consumption reduces the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes.
Enjoying Hot Chocolate for Heart Health
Elevate your hot chocolate from the ordinary by adding almond milk, which is known to be heart-healthy, or add a pinch of cinnamon, which is designated as a superfood and found to contribute to good cardiovascular health. Use unsweetened cocoa or other sugar-free hot chocolate options like NutriWise Classic Hot Chocolate so the drink contains no calories and no added sugar.
3. Brain Health Benefits
In addition to these benefits to health, hot chocolate may also contribute to the preservation of brain function. The flavonoids inside the cocoa could protect and improve cognitive performance by increasing blood flow to the brain, thus improving memory, concentration, and other mental performances.
A study in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology provided evidence that cocoa flavonoids enhance cognitive performance and may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's. Hot chocolate, which contains flavonoids, boosts blood circulation to the brain and helps protect it against normal aging.
Brain-Boosting Hot Chocolate
As an add-on component in the list, dark chocolate or cocoa blend full of flavonoids will offer you that cognitive boost. Try NutriWise Classic Hot Chocolate drink comes rich in cocoa that protects the brain. A sip in the morning or with the afternoon is an excellent idea to keep you alert and concentrated all through the day.
4. Mood-Boosting
It is common knowledge that hot chocolate lifts our mood; now, science supports this. Cocoa is rich in compounds such as serotonin and tryptophan, which elevate mood, reduce stress and anxiety, and enhance feelings of well-being by promoting the production of endorphins, the "feel-good" hormones.
Yet, hot chocolate also contains magnesium, a mineral that is fundamentally important to mood regulation and the alleviation of symptoms associated with depression. Magnesium deficiency has been proven to have linkages with heightened anxiety and stress, thus its replenishment may be a harbinger of emotional rejuvenation.
Comforting Mood Booster
Hot chocolate will provide you with instant comfort in the middle of a frustrating day or mood swing. The soothing warmth of hot chocolate, together with the mood-elevating compounds found in cocoa, makes it one of the best comfort drinks for unwinding at the end of a chaotic day.
5. Ease Weight Management
While the notion may not be intuitively appealing, hot chocolate appears to be an ally in the war against excess weight and obesity if taken in limited quantities and in specific combinations. Compounds in cocoa support the metabolic process, enhance the oxidation of fatty acids and also reduce appetite. Flavonoids in cocoa increase sensitivity to insulin, which helps to regulate blood glucose concentrations and reduce the likelihood of type 2 diabetes.
Thus, on those days when the concentration is melted away in the bath, choose low-calorie or sugar-free hot chocolates, like NutriWise Classic Hot Chocolate, and indulge in them guilt-free, since it's not going to disrupt your diet.
Another advantage of including chocolate in your diet and weight management program is how it can curb your appetite. The intense flavors of cocoa can reduce your cravings for other sweets and desserts which will then make it easier to follow through with the diet.
For making a healthier option, you can use unsweetened almond milk and a sugar-free hot chocolate mix such as the NutriWise Classic Hot Chocolate. Really, it is good, with the taste of cocoa pleasing without added calories; no doubt, it's perfect for anyone trying to enjoy a healthy drink but on one that gives in to indulgence.
Conclusion
Yes, hot chocolate is much more than a wintertime warming-up drink-it is a healthy drink. The powerful antioxidant effects range to improving health for the heart, cognitive brain functions, and mood. The hot chocolate can become an excellent addition to wellness practices. Enjoy rich flavors using high-quality cocoa and low-calorie options with NutriWise Classic Hot Chocolate without feeling remorse.
Whether for the need to sharpen cardiovascular health, improve mental acuity, or more simply because it makes you feel comforted, an obvious choice for your wellness plan is hot chocolate. So the next time you indulge in a cup, remember you're not only indulging-you're making a positive investment in your health.
For a healthy twist on the classic drink, give the NutriWise Classic Hot Chocolate a try today. Want to know more about the health benefits of cocoa and hot chocolate? Take a read through this detailed study from the National Institutes of Health.