Should you eat dark chocolate before sex?

Dark chocolate is rich in minerals, such as iron, magnesium and zinc. The cocoa in dark chocolate also contains antioxidants called flavonoids, which may offer a number of health benefits.

If you buy dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, that kind of product is actually quite nutritious. It contains a good amount of soluble fiber and many minerals.
A 100g bar of dark chocolate with 70–85% cocoa contains:
11 grams of fiber 67% of the RDI for iron (*RDI: Recommended Daily Intake) 58% of the RDI for magnesium 89% of the RDI for copper 98 % RDI for Manganese Dark chocolate is also high in potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium.
In addition, 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of chocolate contains a fair amount of other ingredients that you should sometimes not consume on a daily basis. All of these nutrients also come with 600 calories and a moderate amount of sugar. For this reason, dark chocolate is best consumed in moderation.
The fatty acid composition of cocoa and dark chocolate is also excellent. Fats are mostly saturated and monounsaturated fats, with small amounts of polyunsaturated fats.
It also contains stimulants like caffeine and theobromine, but is unlikely to keep you awake at night because the amount of caffeine is so small compared to coffee.

No wonder chocolate and romance go hand in hand. This sweet treat has been linked to the release of serotonin, a hormone that stimulates feelings of happiness and fulfillment, which in turn can increase your libido.
For classic aphrodisiacs, chocolate is close to perfection. Everyone knows that chocolate contains euphoric substances (these are called phenylethylamine and serotonin, which are mild aphrodisiacs and mood boosters), but the benefits that chocolate brings to life Your sex isn't just that.
Dark chocolate is also rich in antioxidants and high in caffeine, two ingredients that can increase blood flow and stimulate sex drive. Research shows that people who eat dark chocolate on the tongue have higher heart rates, as well as increased brain activity similar to that experienced when passionately kissing.
However, this evidence does not mean that all chocolate works. To get these benefits, you must choose pure dark chocolate. To experience the benefits listed above without the extra calories, choose plain dark chocolate that is as sugar-free or as low-sweet as possible.

3.1 Anti-inflammatory effects Inflammation is part of the body's natural immune response to germs and other harmful substances. However, chronic inflammation can damage cells and tissues and can increase the risk of a number of other conditions, including type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and certain types of cancer. Dark chocolate contains compounds with anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation in the body.
A small study from 2018 on five healthy people examined the effects of dark chocolate on the immune system. The results showed that consuming a large amount of 70% dark chocolate affected the activity of genes that regulate the immune response. However, it remains unclear what practical implications this study will have.
In another study from 2018, researchers found that eating 30g of 84% dark chocolate daily for 8 weeks significantly reduced inflammatory biomarkers in people with type 2 diabetes. 2. The study's authors concluded that additional studies are needed to evaluate the optimal amount of dark chocolate for use in the treatment of diabetes.
3.2 Insulin Resistance Insulin resistance occurs when the body's cells stop responding to the hormone insulin. Insulin resistance can cause blood sugar to be abnormally high, which in turn leads to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
A 6-month study from 2018 examined the relationship between dark chocolate consumption frequency and blood glucose levels among Hispanics. Research results show that eating 48g of 70% dark chocolate per day can help lower fasting blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance.

3.3 Brain Function Eating dark chocolate may improve brain function and help prevent neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Findings from a small 2018 study suggest that the flavanols found in dark chocolate may enhance brain plasticity (neuroplasticity), which is the brain's ability to reorganize itself, especially in response to response to injury and illness.
Powerful source of antioxidants
ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) stands for “oxidant radical absorbance capacity”, which is a measure of a food's antioxidant activity.
Basically, researchers set up a series of (bad) free radicals against a sample of food and saw how well the antioxidants in the food could "disarm" these radicals.
The biological relevance of ORAC values ​​is questionable as it is measured in a laboratory and may not have the same effect on the body.
However, it is worth mentioning that raw, unprocessed cocoa beans were among the foods that scored the highest when tested.
Dark chocolate contains many organic compounds that are bioactive and act as antioxidants, including polyphenols, flavanols and catechins.
One study found that cocoa and dark chocolate had more antioxidant, polyphenol and flavanol activity than any other fruit tested, including blueberries and acai berries.
May improve blood flow and lower blood pressure
The flavanols in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium, the lining of the arteries, to produce nitric oxide (NO).
One of the functions of NO is to send signals to the arteries to relax, reducing the resistance of the lumen to blood flow and thus lowering blood pressure.
Multiple controlled studies show that cocoa and dark chocolate can improve blood flow and lower blood pressure, although the effects are usually mild. However, one study in people with high blood pressure showed no effect.

Increases HDL and protects LDL from oxidation
Consumption of dark chocolate may improve several major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In a controlled study, cocoa powder was found to significantly reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol in men. It also increases HDL and lowers total LDL in people with high cholesterol.
Oxidized LDL means that the LDL (“bad” cholesterol) has reacted with free radicals. This makes the LDL particles self-reactive and potentially harmful to other tissues, such as the lining of the arteries in your heart.

Article reference source: webmd.com, medicalnewstoday.com, healthline.com