Benefits of eating chocolates
October 1, 2008
fter much debate surrounding the benefits of chocolates, research has shown that consuming chocolate, especially the dark chocolate, is indeed very beneficial to one’s health. Chocolate is rich in anti-oxidants which fights against heart diseases. It has been found that it contains flavonoids, which is beneficial for cardiovascular health and is found naturally in foods such as fruits, vegetables and dark wine. In addition to this, it has calcium, iron, vitamins A, B, C, D, and E and traces of Zinc, copper and phenols which protect against heart diseases and boost the immune system. Experts also say that people who consumed chocolate up to three times a month lived a year longer than those who never indulged. This can be attributed to the high presence of polyphenol levels in chocolate. Chocolate also acts as a muscle relaxant and can help reduce stomach cramps. It is rich in magnesium, which when deficient aggravates PMT. This is why many women indulge in it magnanimously every month. Researches in Japan have shown that the part of the cocoa bean which chocolate is made has an anti-bacterial content that would actually protect against teeth cavities. But it does have few of the fermentable carbohydrates which when left on the teeth, can cause tooth decay. Chocolate is also known as an aphrodisiac. An Amino acid containing in the chocolate known as phenyl ethylamine is the one which is known to stimulate desire.
Unfortunately despite the much hype about the benefits of eating chocolate, the high fat and sugar content still leaves chocolate in the same category of most junk foods. Though it contains more anti-oxidants, it can never be considered as a substitute for eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables which is equally rich in anti-oxidants but very less on fat and sugar. All these researches and theories about chocolate being beneficial to human health are still speculative and one cannot just start bingeing on it since the studies says so. Moreover the chocolate which is made for mass consumption does not have high levels of cocoa and are just too high on fat and sugar content.
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