Can Chocolate Benefit Your
Health?
If you're a fan of chocolate you're in good
company. Chocolate is one of the most popular
sweet-tasting treats in the world and has been for
centuries. And part of the myth surrounding chocolate is
that it tastes so good it must be bad for your health.
Which gives it an air of the forbidden.
A beautifully wrapped box of chocolates has always been
considered a very romantic gift. So if the special person in
your life is a self-confessed chocoholic, you know one surefire
way to please them on special occasions. 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.
Does Chocolate Really Have Health
Benefits?Chocolate contains over 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. 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 DoThere 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 25lbs at one sitting) to feel any
noticeable effect.
On The Negative Side...
- Chocolate may trigger headaches in migraine
sufferers.
- 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
ChocolateDark 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.
If you're intrigued by chocolate and want to learn more, our
article on
A Brief History of Chocolate will fill you in on
chocolate's exotic origins.
Recommended Chocolate SitesYou
can tell we're chocoholics by the large list of chocolate
sites we're recommending. This was definitely one of our
most enjoyable research projects. Please click on the
following affiliate links:
- USA
- Chocolate Source
Offers a wide range of gourmet chocolate, chocolate recipes
and excellent historical information
- Purdy's Chocolates
Assorted fine chocolates including hedgehogs and
truffles
- Nirvana Chocolates
Suppliers of imported hand-crafted Belgian chocolates
- Care Packages By Mom
Suppliers of snacks and chocolate packages for all
occasions
- Nostalgic Candy
Suppliers of 'old-fashioned treats' from prior decades,
including the '50s, '60s and '70s
- The 1-Stop Sugarless Shop
Offers sugar-free candy, chocolate, cake mixes, cookies,
fudge, syrups and gift baskets.
- Cadbury
Gifts Direct
A gift web site of the legendary English chocolate
manufacturers
- Godiva Chocolates
Site of the famous Godiva brand chocolates
- Europe
- Aphrodite Handmade Chocolates
Suppliers of English gourmet luxury chocolates
- Dan's Wholesale Chocolate
Manufacturers of eleven original chocolate products
-
zChocolat.com
French site offers stunningly packaged French
chocolates
-
Hotel Chocolat
Buy HotelChocolat's handmade chocolates online, perfect
gifts for all occasions
Australia
- Rainbow
Designs
Funky gift boxes full of tasty sweets, chocolates, stuffed
toys, champagne and other delightful treats
- Definitely
Chocolate
Exquisite hand made chocolates
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