Date post: | 03-Jul-2015 |
Category: |
Healthcare |
Upload: | jayakrishnan-kichu |
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Why You Should Eat More Chocolate For A
Healthier Life
Cacao packs a powerful punch
PackedwithhealthychemicalslikeflavonoidsandTheobromine,thecacaobeanisadiseasekillingbulletandalsothesourceofchocolate’sdistincttaste.Makesureyourchocolateofchoiceishealthy,withatleast70%cacao.Sincecacaohasahighfatandsugarcontent,limityourselfto7ounces,orabout4chocol
atebarsperweek.
Abarofchocolatewithatleast70%ofcocoaisrichinfiber,iron,magnesium,copper,manganese,potassium,phosphorus,zinc,andselenium.Chocolatealsohasagreatfattyacidprofile,withfatsbeingmostlysaturatedandmonounsaturatedwithsmallamountsofpolyunsaturatedfats.
AccordingtoastudybytheTheJournalofNutrition,regularconsumptionofchocolatebarscontainingplantsterolsandcocoaflavanolsmaysupportcardiovascularhealthbyloweringcholesterolandiprovingbloodpressure.
A9yearstudyinSwedenofmorethan31,000womenshowedthosewomenwhoate1or2servingsofdarkchocolateeveryweekreducedtheirchanceforheartfaiurebyathird.Anotherstudy,inGermany,showedthateatingasquareofchocolateperdayreducesriskforhighbloodpressure,stroke,andheartattackby39%duetothepresenceofflavonoids.Infact,achocolatebarhasabout5timestheamountofflavonoidscomparedtoapples.
Differentareasofthebrainneedmoreenergytocompletetheirtasks,andthus,needgreaterbloodflowaswell.Thisrelationship,knownasneurovascularcoupling,mayplayanimportantroleinconditions
suchasAlzheimer’s.Hotchocolatecanhelppreservebloodflowinthebrain.
Chocolate can help with weight loss?
Inaway,yes!Darkchocolateismorefillingthatlightercoloredchocolatesandlessenscravingsforsweet,salty,andfattyfoods.Therefore,youcaneatasmallerportionofdarkchocolate
thanotherchocolatesandstillsatisfyyourcraving,makingiteasiertosticktoyourdiet.
Going out in the sun? Grab a piece of chocolate!
Theflavonolsfoundincocoacanprotectagainstsun-induceddamage,improvebloodflowtotheskinandincreaseskindensityandhydration.
Chocolate: Diabetes’ Secret Foe
AccordingtoClaudioFerri,leaderresearcherattheUniversityofL’AquilainItaly,theflavonoidsfoundinchocolateincreasenitricoxideproduction.Anincreaseinnitricoxideproductionhelpsinsulinsensitivityandcandropinsulinresistancebyhalf.
Happier Babies
AstudyfromFinlandfoundthatwomenwhoatechocolatedailyduringtheirpregnancywerebetterabletomanagestressthanwomenwhodidn’t.Thebabiesofthesewomenwerealsohappierandsmiledmore.
Toughchoice:apieceofdarkchocolateorapacifierforyourscreamingbaby’smouth?
JJK