Chocolate Health Benefits - What It Can Do for You!
In the past, chocolate was something that we avoided eating because they said it would make us fat and give us bad skin. Even if we craved for it, we often tried not to have even a single bite for fear of other health dangers. However, nowadays studies show that chocolate can be good for us due to the discovery of different chemical elements found in it such as flavonoids. Flavonoids are considered to be a type of polyphenol antioxidant which can be good for blood circulation and clotting. These antioxidants found in chocolates are high in cocoa powder, dark chocolate, and milk chocolate, respectively. Researchers even say that dark chocolates have a considerable amount of polyphenol antioxidants much higher than those found in strawberries. There are more than 300 chemicals found in chocolates which are being studied by health experts. So far, most of those that are identified show good effects to our health not only physically but emotionally and psychologically.
If you feel cranky or have the blues, a dose of chocolates, especially the dark ones, can give you a good feeling due to the chemical serotonin. Another chemical called tryptophan can even provide you with a feeling of ecstasy while phenyllethylamine can make you feel giddy especially if chocolates are eaten in large amounts. Feeling unloved? Eat more chocolates! The endorphins found in them can provide you with the warm inner glow you need like a warm blanket in a cold winter night. Eating chocolates give such feelings to due to the effect of the mentioned chemicals to the activities in your brain and heart rate. However, you should still consider your intake amount because chocolates still have calories which can give you unwanted pounds. Eating 1.6-ounce of dark chocolate is considered to be the ideal daily intake.
Studies show that dark chocolates contain a high content of chromium which helps with blood clotting and blood flow. This is due to the fact that chromium found in chocolates can aid in controlling blood sugar and lowering blood pressure. Chocolates are also high in carbohydrates and contain B vitamins and minerals which can supply energy and strength to your body for the whole day. Adding 1 teaspoon of cocoa to a cup of milk blocks cramping, bloating and makes milk easier to digest if you are lactose-intolerant. Chocolate drinks can also aid you if you have digestion problems.
Chocolate does contain sugar and caffeine. It is said that eating chocolates at three in the afternoon will replenish the needed sugar in your blood and will help kick-start more brain activity. Caffeine in chocolates is higher in the dark variety compared to milk chocolate because the latter contains less cocoa. A 1.45 ounce dark chocolate may contain 18 milligrams of caffeine, an ordinary 1.55 ounce chocolate bar can have 9 milligrams of caffeine and 3 teaspoons of powdered cocoa mix have 5 milligrams of caffeine.
Other studies show that chocolates can help smooth skin. Drinking half a cup of enriched cocoa daily for three months can do wonders for your skin. It will appear less scaly when exposed to ultraviolet light. Cocoa can also act like a low dose aspirin because it can stimulate brain activity that eases out any pressure on the head. In addition, it appears that chocolates do not contain high cholesterol because cocoa solids and cocoa butter do not contain trans fat.
If you have always been a lover of chocolate but were frightened by its bad reputation, the above is good news! Chocolate has its place in a healthy diet as long as it is eaten, like most foods, in moderation. This is sweet news!
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