2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14
Chocolate is made from the fruits of the tropical evergreen tree Theobroma cacao, which grows in South America. This rich taste was already known to people during the ancient Olmec civilization, more than a thousand years before our era. After the Europeans discovered America, chocolate became very popular all over the world. Gradually, more and more new varieties and recipes for this delicacy were invented. It is well known that real dark chocolate is he althier than its milk and white varieties. It is ideally made with roasted chocolate tree beans, cocoa butter and sugar. At the same time, the share of cocoa ranges from 70% to 99%.
Bitter chocolate tastes less sweet than milk chocolate. That is why it is a hit with so many people around the world.
One ounce of this flavorful treat is loaded with antioxidants, flavonoids and vitamins. Other he althy nutrients present in dark chocolate are soluble fiber, potassium, manganese, zinc, selenium,copper, magnesium and iron.
Like other types of this delicacy, dark bitter chocolate is quite high in calories and contains sugar. But when consumed in moderation, it can have a positive effect on he alth. Numerous studies conducted independently in different countries have confirmed this fact.
What is the use of dark chocolate, and what benefits do lovers of sweets derive from their addiction?
Sure remedy for students
Is there a responsible mental work, a difficult exam or a dinner with relatives? Studies conducted at the University of Nottingham have shown that one piece of dark chocolate is enough to temporarily stimulate the brain for two to three hours. This effect is achieved due to the fact that flavanol, one of the key components of dark chocolate, has the beneficial property of dilating blood vessels. Because of this, more oxygen can reach key areas of the brain, improving concentration, reaction time, and memory.
By the way, some other foods high in flavonol have a similar effect: green tea, blueberries.
Chocolate helps eyes
For the same reasons, ie more blood flow to the retina and brain, dark chocolate can improve eyesight. Researchers have found that eating dark chocolate in moderation has beneficial effects on a person's ability to, for example, detect movement and discern subtle contrasts.
Sweet antidepressant
In order to relieve stress or cheer up a bad mood, dark (the most delicious) chocolate is an excellent tool. This is because it helps increase levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which acts as a mild natural antidepressant.
A study conducted by Swiss scientists from the Nestle Research Center confirms that eating half a bar of dark chocolate a day for 2 weeks helps reduce stress hormones. In addition, dark chocolate contains a lot of magnesium, which is also indispensable in the fight against stress, fatigue, depression and irritability.
Dessert for hypertension
What else is bitter chocolate good for? If your blood pressure is slightly elevated, a small bite a day can help bring it down. According to medical research, cocoa polyphenols helped reduce hypertension in 18% of participants aged 56 to 73 who consumed about 6g of dark chocolate (containing 30mg of polyphenols) per day for 18 weeks.
How does it work? Flavonol stimulates the endothelium (artery walls) to produce nitric oxide. Further, in turn, nitric oxide helps to relax the arteries. The resistance to blood flow will decrease, and thus the pressure will normalize. In the future, this helps chocolate lovers avoid problems such as heart failure, atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, reduces the risk of developing various cognitivedisorders (such as dementia).
The most enjoyable diabetes prevention
Chocolate not only promotes the he alth of blood vessels, but also helps protect the body from type II diabetes. Flavonoids reduce insulin resistance, which allows cells to function efficiently and use their body's insulin. At the same time, it is dark dark chocolate that has a fairly low glycemic index, in other words, it will not cause huge spikes in sugar levels.
Delicacy for heart he alth
Dark chocolate may slightly reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering bad cholesterol (LDL), according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
In addition, cocoa can increase the level of HDL (the so-called "good cholesterol"). It is not yet clear if this is due to the presence of flavonoids and theobromine in cocoa.
Pamper yourself during your cold
Speaking of the he alth benefits of dark chocolate, one cannot fail to mention that it contains a special substance - theobromine, which helps control cough.
Scientists from the "British National He alth Service" suggested taking theobromine twice for three hundred patients suffering from chronic cough. After two weeks, they found that 60 percent of people who took the substance experienced relief from their cough. Another study done in Londonconfirmed these findings.
A delicious solution to a delicate problem
What else is bitter chocolate good for? It has long been observed that it can relieve the symptoms of diarrhea. Why is this happening? Flavonoids bind and inhibit a specific protein (CFTR) that regulates fluid secretion in the small intestine, and the result is immediate.
Moderation is everything
Chocolate has received a lot of bad press over the past years. Its use has been linked to acne, obesity, coronary heart disease and diabetes.
But, despite its unenviable reputation, dark is the most delicious chocolate, and even not so terrible for the figure and he alth. Today, it is valued for its enormous antioxidant potential. And the relatively recent discovery of bioactive phenolic compounds found in cocoa has stimulated research into its effects on aging, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. And when choosing sweets for tea, the main thing to remember: the higher the cocoa content, the more he alth benefits and less unnecessary sugar in a chocolate bar. Thus, this delicious dessert can be a he althy treat - but only as long as it is consumed in reasonable quantities.
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