Dark Chocolate and Your Health

It's one of the most popular sweets of all time. Women crave it, men hoard it, and Aztec kings were said to have been the first to eat it. But why do we love chocolate so much?

Why chocolate is so popular!

• It melts in your mouth. The cocoa butter in chocolate gives it a rich, creamy consistency that also transmits the cocoa's flavor perfectly. It also has a melting point that's just a bit lower than the average human body temperature, which gives you that melt-in-your-mouth feeling every time you pop a piece of chocolate in your mouth. Chocolate lovers often describe this melting feeling as a true moment of ecstasy.

• Women crave chocolate more often than men do. Women are also habitually given chocolate as birthday and Valentine's Day presents. In our culture, chocolate is thought of as a romantic gift, it's associated with love and romance. That could be another reason why women particularly love chocolate: deep down, it makes them feel loved, cared for, and pampered.
 
• It's really good for you - Recent studies suggest that chocolate especially dark chocolate contains chemicals that lower the risk of cancer and heart disease. Flavanoids and antioxidants in dark chocolate have been shown to make a difference in cardiovascular health. Until recently, tea was considered the main source for these chemicals. Now, scientists recommend that you have a chocolate cookie or biscuit with your tea so your body gets more of those life-lengthening chemicals.
• Don't have milk with your dark chocolate, however..the same studies show that milk can cancel out the healthful effects of eating chocolate by preventing those helpful chemicals from being fully absorbed in the body.
 

Actually, in moderate quantities dark chocolate has benefits similar to those of green tea or red wine, only more so. Dark chocolate can be good for your health!It truly can be a miracle food. Even better, it tastes wonderful, it's hard to find anyone who doesn't like some kind of chocolate.
Benefits
Several studies have demonstrated that lowered blood pressure is one of the primary health benefits of eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate.

How Does It Work?
Dark chocolate is very high in antioxidants, which protect the body from cell damage caused by exposure to the world, helping to reduce or counteract some of the effects normally attributed to aging. This protection results in improved blood circulation, and lower blood pressure.

The antioxidants found in dark chocolate are similar to those found in green tea and red wine. In fact, dark chocolate has significantly more antioxidants than either of these. In addition to lowered blood pressure, these antioxidants have been shown to provide other benefits, such as lower cholesterol and protection from heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

Also not yet proven, but suspected, dark chocolate health benefits include: decreased complications in pregnant women, boosted brain function and delayed brain decline with aging, some protection against tooth decay, improves post-workout muscle recovery, and protects against the skin damage effects of the sun's ultra-violet (UV) radiation such as wrinkling and possibly even skin cancer.Studies for more dark chocolate health benefits are still underway!

Why Only the Dark Chocolate?Not White or Milk Chocolate?!

Why are all of these various health benefits attributed to dark chocolate? Raw cocoa contains the most antioxidants. Essentially, the raw cocoa is processed the least to produce dark chocolate. More processing, and removal of more antioxidants, produces milk chocolate, and even more processing (basically leaving no antioxidants) is required for white chocolate. The higher the percentage of cocoa in your dark chocolate, the higher the antioxidants, and the greater the benefits.

To Maximize Health Benefits

Let's admit it. None of us are eating dark chocolate just for the health benefits, right? But, we can adjust our consumption to maximize the dark chocolate health benefits by following these 4 steps:

1.      The darker the chocolate the better. Choose higher percentages of cocoa. This maximizes the antioxidants.

2.      Eat moderate portions. Dark chocolate is high calorie.

3.      Avoid dark chocolate with extra calories, such as with nougat, caramel, marshmallow, etc.

4.     Don't Forget!! Do not consume with milk.

Other Benefits of Dark Chocolate:
Chocolate also holds benefits apart from protecting your heart:
·         it tastes good
·         it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure
·         it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant
·         it contains Theo bromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants

Doesn't Chocolate Have a lot of Fat?

Here is some more good news, some of the fats in chocolate do not impact your cholesterol. The fats in chocolate are 1/3 oleic acid, 1/3 stearic acid and 1/3 palmitic acid:

·    Oleic Acid is a healthy monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil.
·    Stearic Acid is a saturated fat but one which research is shows has a neutral effect on cholesterol.
·    Palmitic Acid is also a saturated fat, one which raises cholesterol and heart disease risk.
That means only 1/3 of the fat in dark chocolate is bad for you.

Chocolate Nutrition Facts

 Dark Chocolate contains a multitude of nutrients: cocoa powerful antioxidants, fats (through cocoa butter); carbohydrates (through starch and various sugars); large amounts of vegetable proteins, potassium, and magnesium; small amounts of calcium and sodium; traces of iron; vitamins A, B1, (which is thiamine), B2 (which is riboflavin), D, and E; and caffeine.

Many of these are good nutrients, creating chocolate nutrition health benefits. For a relatively small quantity, chocolate is a high-energy food. The difference between milk chocolate and dark chocolate is the ratio of cocoa liquor-to-milk. Some manufacturers use milk solids instead of whole milk, accounting for the many varieties of chocolate.

One bar of dark chocolate has around 400 calories. If you eat half a bar of chocolate a day, you must balance those 200 calories by eating less of something else. Cut out other sweets or snacks and replace them with chocolate to keep your total calories the same.

Here are my top health benefits of dark chocolate

Brain health benefits of dark chocolate
Like the heart and blood vessels, dark chocolate can protect the brain from conditions related to high blood pressure, clots and free radical damage. Chocolate also affects the brain’s function, thereby affecting mental function, cognition and mood. One of the really good health benefits of dark chocolate!

Dark chocolate and the effects of diabetes

Both forms of diabetes are conditions that are linked to and exacerbate other major conditions. Numerous studies indicate that dark chocolate has a very favorable effect on blood sugar levels and the symptoms of diabetes.

Health benefits of dark chocolate on inflammation
A growing body of research associates chronic inflammation with a number of diseases ranging from heart disease and dementia to gastrointestinal disorders and diabetes. Fortunately, cocoa has been proven to be a powerful anti-inflammatory agent.

Chocolate is also very good for skin
Today there are many chocolate facials available that gives glow to the skin.

Health benefits of dark chocolate and weight control
It’s not secret that obesity is a huge and growing problem in the whole world and other. Fortunately. cocoa appears to possess different properties that can reduce weight gain in the body. It may also have appetite suppressant properties.Remember! in moderate quantities

Oral health benefits of dark chocolate
There has long been a misconception that chocolate contributes to tooth cavities. While it’s probably true that low-grade, refined sugar-laden chocolate certainly can contribute to decay, research suggests that dark chocolate actually helps fight tooth decay.

Mental benefits of eating chocolate
Research has shown that chocolate contains Theo bromine, a component that is rich in caffeine and anandamide. These properties tend to induce mental alertness and aids in increasing our moods.
Depleted serotonin levels can lead to depression and suicide. In addition, a person who has low dopamine quantities tends to feel apathetic and sad. On the contrary, when a person has increased levels of these chemical properties in his brain, one would feel a blast of euphoria and good mood.
Antidepressant properties were confirmed by researchers when they revealed that both serotonin and dopamine levels increased after munching on dark chocolate bars. Carbohydrates and Theo bromine are substances that stimulate the nervous system of our brain. Furthermore, these chemical mediators provide us with extra energy to utilize in our activities. Research has also demonstrated that chomping on chocolates could help in stimulating women with low libidos.

One piece of dark chocolate a day can do wonders for your memory
There is a good news for the all the people who can resist themselves from eating dark chocolates. Yes that is true that dark chocolate is really good your brain and memory!
Dark chocolates contain essential minerals and also bioflavonoids, especially flavonols. it helps increase the blood flow in the brain which increases the elasticity of the blood vessels

Chocolates are very good stress busters, so when you are stressed out, try a piece of chocolate and notice the change within you. So, there are now better reasons for you to enjoy dark chocolate

Have a great day!