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The Health Benefits of Chocolate: Can Chocolate Benefit Your Health?
Chocolate is one of the most popular sweet-tasting treats in the
world and has been for centuries. But part of the myth surrounding
chocolate is that if it tastes so good, it must be bad for your health.
But the surprising news from the scientific community is that this
reputedly decadent treat actually has some health benefits, especially
if you choose your chocolate wisely.
Is Chocolate A Health Food?
Chocolate contains more than 300 chemicals, and has been the subject of
a number of studies by universities and other scientific organizations.
Here's a quick rundown of the results. (Note, we have no way of proving
or disproving these claims so we offer them here as a stimulus for
further research. If you're really interested in the subject, this may
provide you with a starting point.)
* Cacao, the source of chocolate, contains antibacterial agents that
fight tooth decay. Of course, this is counteracted by the high sugar
content of milk chocolate.
* The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in
relaxation.
* Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator.
* The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated
fat which may raise good cholesterol.
* Drinking a cup of hot chocolate before meals may actually diminish
appetite.
* Men who eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don't.
* The flavanoids in chocolate may help keep blood vessels elastic.
* Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.
* Mexican healers use chocolate to treat bronchitis and insect bites.
* The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain,
resulting in a sense of well-being.
What Chocolate Won't Do
There are many myths and half-truths about the effects of chocolate on
the human body. Here are the latest findings on several of them.
* Studies show that chocolate is not a causative factor in acne.
* Cacao contains the stimulants caffeine and bromine, but in such small
quantities that they don't cause nervous excitability.
* Chocolate is not addictive.
* Chocolate contains stearic acid, a neutral fat which doesn't raise bad
cholesterol.
* Chocolate doesn't make you 'high'. You'd need to eat a huge quantity
(about 25 pounds at one sitting) to feel any noticeable effect.
But On The Negative Side...
1. Chocolate may trigger headaches in migraine sufferers.
2. Milk chocolate is high in calories, saturated fat and sugar.
What About Chocolate And Your Pets?
Chocolate is considered dangerous to animals because it contains a
stimulant called theobromine, which they can't digest.
Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are even more dangerous because they
contain higher concentrations of the substance. This applies whether
chocolate is in candy bar form, or an ingredient in cake, cookies,
puddings or ice cream.
If a pet becomes ill after eating chocolate, take it to the vet
immediately.
Dark Chocolate Versus Milk Chocolate
Dark chocolate contains more cacao and less sugar than milk chocolate.
It follows that any health benefits would be more pronounced in dark
chocolate.
Dark chocolate is allowed on the popular Montaignac diet while milk
chocolate is not.
You'll need to do a little research if you have any health concerns
about eating chocolate. But with products like gluten-free and
sugar-free brands finding their way onto supermarket shelves, you're
sure to find some form of chocolate you can enjoy with a clear
conscience.
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© Marguerite Bonneville is a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic
Programming (NLP) whose passion is publishing information online. She is
a contributing writer for
http://www.romantic-gift-ideas-online.com, a resource site dedicated
to helping visitors find the perfect romantic gift.
Join Momscape today! It's easy and free.
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