Chocolate. One of the most popular and consumed sweets in the world. In a year, the U.S. alone consumes 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate. That’s 22 pounds of chocolate per person! So it’s an obvious no-brainer to say that the cocoa candy bar is a beloved and precious treat to consumers. 

But, I believe a certain debate greatly divides my fellow chocolate lovers: Milk chocolate or Dark chocolate, which is superior? 

Though I enjoy both, I favor more with dark chocolate and believe it is far superior. However compared to milk chocolate’s favor in popularity, I feel dark chocolate is underappreciated and not acknowledged for its worth. When in reality, dark chocolate provides more benefits and effects than any other chocolate. Personally, I think dark chocolate is better because it preserves natural ingredients, benefits your health, and makes you feel happy.

Starting off with my first point, dark chocolate preserves its natural ingredients. Depending on the cocoa percentage, a bar of dark chocolate contains 400-800 milligrams of cocoa polyphenols. Cocoa polyphenols are natural plant compounds that come from cocoa before processing. 

Unlike dark chocolate, milk chocolate loses these natural and rich supplements as it undergoes processing. Added sugars and fats from butter or milk decrease milk chocolate’s nutritional value. On the contrary, dark chocolate excludes processed fats and sugars in which makes the chocolate more nutritionally rich. In conclusion, dark chocolate preserves more natural content than its milky counterpart, making it the healthier and richer chocolate.

Secondly, dark chocolate benefits our health. Following along with my first claim, cocoa polyphenols are rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants are chemicals that protect the body from radical damage, lowers blood pressure, and improves blood flow. Improved blood flow within the body prevents inflammation and the risks of clogged heart arteries. So thanks to these powerful antioxidants, the likelihood of severe health issues such as strokes and heart disease is reduced.  

Finally, dark chocolate makes you feel happy. Before heading into further detail, I reassure you this is a scientifically proven fact and not my own opinion. Eating dark chocolate has proved to have multiple effects on the brain. And an increased production of endorphins is one of them. If you didn’t know endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers and reduce feelings of stress. 

Other effects of dark chocolate include; decreased cravings and improved memory, attention span, and problem-solving skills. 

First starting off with cravings. These mouth-watering and tempting cries for food are formed by two hormones: serotonin and dopamine. When these hormone levels are low, they create cravings for carbohydrates like sugar and bread. However, consuming dark chocolate has shown to elevate serotonin and dopamine levels. Overall, resulting in reduced food cravings.  

Secondly, dark chocolate improves memorization, attention span, and problem-solving skills.  These improvements tie in with dark chocolate’s high content of antioxidants. Specifically, antioxidants increase blood flow to the brain. Allowing the brain to function at the highest endeavor and enhance cognitive skills.

To sum everything up, dark chocolate is superior compared to milk chocolate. The ingredients, health benefits, and effects provided by dark chocolate completely outvalue milk chocolate’s minimal effects and unhealthy contents. 

In conclusion, making dark chocolate the best and most beneficial type of chocolate.