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. But 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.
Is Chocolate A Health Food?
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 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 25lbs 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 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.
© 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.
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