Reasons why chocolate is healthy
October 28, 2015
Foodviki
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Chocolate is
the ultimate comfort food, a sure-fire stand-by in times of stress, a reliable
source of consolation when life has let us down, and a mood-enhancer and
romance-inducer in more positive circumstances. But is it at all healthy?
Chocolate is
the processed and sweetened food produced from cocoa. Cocoa is a good source of
iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous and zinc. It also contains the
antioxidants catechins and procyanidins.
It’s loaded
with antioxidants
Dark chocolate contains hefty amounts
of disease fighting flavenoids, antioxidants also found in red wine
and many fruits and vegetables. In fact, it appears to have more flavenoids
than any other food.
It's good for the heart and circulation
A recent study found that dark
chocolate helps restore flexibility to arteries while also preventing
white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels - both common
causes of artery clogging.
Chocolate decreases stroke risk
A Swedish study found that eating more than
45 grams of chocolate per week about two bars worth led to a 20
percent decrease in stroke risk among women. Chocolate contains
flavonoids, whose antioxidant properties help fight strokes, the study’s
author, Susanna Larsson, told Health Day.
Its mineral rich
Dark chocolate is packed with beneficial
minerals such as potassium, zinc and selenium, and a 100g bar of dark (70
per cent or more) choc provides 67 per cent of the RDA of iron.
It reduces cholesterol
Consumption of cocoa has been shown
to reduce levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and raise levels of “good”
cholesterol, potentially lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Chocolate improves blood flow
In 2008 Harvard scientists forced test
subjects to undergo “two weeks of enhanced chocolate intake.” A fortnight of chocolate
face-stuffing, they found, sped up blood flow through their subject’s middle
cerebral arteries. In other words, more chocolate means more blood to your
brain.
It can help you lose weight
Chocolate can help you lose weight? Neuroscientist
Will Clower says a small square of good choc melted on the tongue 20 minutes
before a meal triggers the hormones in the brain that say “I’m full”, cutting
the amount of food you subsequently consume. Finishing a meal with the same
small trigger could reduce subsequent snacking.
The darker the chocolate, the better for your
health
Pure chocolate is actually quite bitter,
which is why it is almost always combined with other ingredients in a chocolate
bar. But the chocolate part of that bar is what contains the good stuff: fiber,
magnesium and antioxidants.
It's good for mothers and babies
A Finnish study found that chocolate
reduced stress in expectant mothers, and that the babies of such mothers smiled
more often than the offspring of non-chocolate-eating parents.
It may prevent diabetes
It sounds mad, but cocoa has been
shown to improve insulin sensitivity. So dark chocolate - in moderation - might
delay or prevent the onset of diabetes.
Chocolate is good for the brain
Flavanols are thought to reduce memory loss in
older people, and the anti-inflamatory qualities of dark chocolate have
been found beneficial in treating brain injuries such as concussion.
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