Chocolate is good for you. However not all chocolates are. There are three main types of chocolate: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. The difference between the three is the amount of cocoa liquor each of them contains. The more cocoa is in the chocolate, the better it is for you. Based on that, the chocolate with the most cocoa is: dark chocolate! A 2010 German research involving whether chocolate is nutritional or not says that eating 6 grams (0.2 oz) of dark chocolate that is at least 70% cocoa a day is beneficial. In comparison to dark chocolate, milk and white chocolate contain little to no cocoa liquor. Instead, they contain condensed milk or powdered milk, cream, and lots of sugar which is NOT healthy. Surprisingly, adding milk to chocolate does not increase its nutritional benefits. Rather, milk adds to the fat content of the chocolate making it less healthy. In the end, dark chocolate is the only chocolate you should be indulging in.
Dark chocolate has multiple health benefits which are due to that dark chocolate contains flavonoids, phenylethylamine, theobromine, and vitamins and minerals.
Foods that contain antioxidants:
Flavonoids are plant-based compounds with antioxidant properties that are beneficial due to that they repair cellular damage. Antioxidants are beneficial because they prevent oxidation in cells which is caused by free radicals in the body. Other foods that contain flavonoids include blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and legumes. The flavonoids, or rather, the antioxidant properties in dark chocolate are responsible for lowering blood pressure, increasing blood flow to the brain and heart, controlling blood sugar, maintaining cardiovascular health, slows down the signs of aging, and even protecting against illnesses such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and some cancers. It is surprising to think that dark chocolate can help control blood sugar as it is a sweet, however the flavonoids in the dark chocolate reduces insulin and helps your body use insulin efficiently. As a "side-effect" this also prevents type 2 diabetes. Speaking of side effects, a side effect of increased blood flow to the brain and heart is the reduced risk of a stroke as well as increased cognitive function and healthier arteries!
Phenylethylamine or PEA is a chemical your brain creates when you feel like you are falling in love. PEA also encourages the brain to release endorphins which causes you to feel happy. In result of containing PEA, dark chocolate in turn has a positive effect on your mood. What a better way to brighten up your mood by indulging in a little chocolate!
Theobromine is an alkaloid or plant-derived organic compound. Similarly to coffee, it is a stimulant which explains why chocolate can wake you up. Aside from acting as a stimulant, theobromine can also lower the risk of cavaties because it hardens tooth enamel. How ironic it is that chocolate, a candy, can improve your oral health!
Lastly, dark chocolate contains vitamins and minerals such as potassium, copper, magnesium, and iron. Like the flavonoids in dark chocolate, pottasium and copper helps prevent against stroke and cardiovascular diseases. Magnesium prevents prevents type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Meanwhile, the iron restores the body's iron and prevents iron deficiency.
Although dark chocolate seems to have many health benefits, the effects are still quite small compared to other healthy foods. Also, enjoy everything in moderation! Too much of one thing is never too good; chocolate is not excluded. Above, I mentioned the 2010 German research on whether chocolate is nutritional or not, and the suggested amount of chocolate a day is 6 grams (0.2 oz). Although dark chocolate does have nutritional values, the advised amount to eat a day is still quite small. If one consumes too much dark chocolate, the calories consumed will be more than the calories burned resulting in weight gain and more. In conclusion, indulging in a little bit of chocolate is alright, however eating too much will not do you any good.
Oh my gosh Michelle, this is so long LOL.
ReplyDeleteI think that you presented the information well, in a way that wasn't too overwhelming (other than the length of it, omg). Like, you introduced the types of chocolate and clearly stated which one had benefits. I also thought that all the various benefits were interesting, though as you said, they're actually fairly small.
Like what Chandra said, it's so long, but other than that...it was easy to read and presented well~ Now that I know dark chocolate contains PEA, I'll eat some when I'm feeling sad, haha.
ReplyDeleteMichelle after reading this post I feel like eating chocolate haha! I like how you separated your information into separate paragraphs because it makes it easier to read and each point you made had descriptive facts to back it up.
ReplyDelete-Tanvi M