Research indicates that dark chocolate with 50 to 70% cacao helps relieve stress, improve gut health and increase blood flow – all effects which could eventually help strengthen immune systems indirectly.
Dark chocolate contains phytonutrients or polyphenols known as flavonoids that may play an integral part in disease prevention.
Cocoa powder contains up to 50mg of polyphenols per gram and one serving provides more phenolic antioxidants than most foods and beverages such as black tea, red wine and cranberry juice combined. Catechins and epicatechins, procyanidins as well as procyanidins provide most of these antioxidants in cocoa.
Cocoa is an abundant source of potassium, magnesium, fiber and arginine; an amino acid which promotes blood vessel dilation.
Flavonoids have been implicated as potential aids to cancer prevention, improved heart health and weight loss.
Prior research suggests that dark chocolate could have a beneficial impact on gut microbiota and help regulate blood pressure levels.
Inflammation is the immune system’s response to an irritant. Extreme inflammation may cause reactions in the body that lead to serious health problems; researchers explain that oxidative stress may play a part in chronic inflammation.
Research indicates that inflammation has become an integral part of chronic disorders and diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cancer, diabetes, obesity eye disorders and arthritis.
Dark chocolate’s ability to improve immunity stems from its antioxidants’ anti-inflammatory benefits and polyphenols’ ability to inhibit oxidative-stress-activated molecular signaling pathways. Studies have also demonstrated how dark chocolate consumption boosts immunity since its ingredients include flavonols renowned for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Immunity relies heavily on blood circulation, with dark chocolate consumption helping increase it by improving endothelial function and providing antioxidant protection that aids immunity by shielding cells while simultaneously helping the immune system fight infections and diseases.
As more antioxidants are necessary to defend against inflammation and oxidative stress, both associated with immune function, more antioxidants are crucial. While no direct evidence links dark chocolate with COVID, flu, or common cold protection, there may be an indirect correlation between its consumption and immunity to such infections.
Studies have demonstrated that dark chocolate may help mitigate inflammation caused by stressors. Cocoa was found to significantly alleviate chronic sleep disorders caused by psychophysiological strain via prevention of circadian rhythm disruption in mice.
Two more studies evaluating the relationship between dark chocolate and immunity investigated how dark chocolate with a 70% cacao concentration and 30% organic cane sugar affected stress levels, immunity levels, inflammation levels, memory and mood in study participants. Participants consumed large quantities of cacao over short and long time frames – higher cacao concentration meant greater positive impacts on immunity, mood memory cognition.
Chocolate is an excellent source of fiber, essential for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome and creating balanced immune responses. Studies show that maintaining an ideal gut health has an overall beneficial effect on immunity levels in humans.
