Author: Karen Lennox
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
January 27, 2026
The nutrients of dark chocolate reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and others
Elderly studies show that those who eat dark chocolate in moderation have a lower risk of heart failure than those who avoid it.
Researchers have found that people who eat up to three dark chocolates a month are 13% less likely to develop heart disease. It is said that natural compounds in cocoa, called flavonoids , have a beneficial effect on the wall of blood vessels, help reduce inflammation and increase good cholesterol. Flavonoids increase nitric oxide, a gas that dilates blood vessels and helps blood circulation.
Flavonols are the main type of flavonoid found in cocoa and dark chocolate. They have a positive effect on heart health by lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow to the brain and heart.
A study of 470 adult men found that cocoa in dark chocolate reduced the risk of death by 50% due to cardiovascular disease.
Studies from Harvard University have found that consuming 2 to 6 servings of 30 grams of dark chocolate each week reduces the risk of atrial fibrillation by 23%, which is one of the biggest causes of stroke.
Dark chocolate also has antioxidant properties that prevent free radicals. Its ingredients improve mood, improve cognitive functions and have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease.
Dark chocolate is rich in fiber, iron, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium. It also contains magnesium, which maintains a healthy immune system. The nutrients of dark chocolate reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 7%. Eating chocolate 2 times a week lowers calcium plaque in the arteries by 32%.
Apart from preventing heart failure and developing other cardiovascular diseases, dark chocolate has many other beneficial properties. However, it is important to eat in moderation. Experts warn against refraining from consuming too much dark chocolate, as it has the opposite effect - it can increase the risk of developing heart disease .