Is chocolate good for our health?

Would it be possible to combine chocolate pleasure and health benefits?

Chocolate is the subject of debate and it is sometimes difficult to get everyone to agree.

Previously, the cocoa tree was a sign of medicine and nutritious food at the same time. With time and evolution, the gods and warriors became aware of the strengthening and aphrodisiac virtues now demonstrated by science. This small fruit that represents the cocoa bean is the one that has the most qualities.

According to proven studies, cocoa and chocolate have considerable nutritional and pharmacological properties.

We have all heard the famous phrase “chocolate makes you fat” too much. Of course, if you consume an excessive amount of chocolate full of sugars and other additional chemicals. In this case only, yes chocolate will make you gain weight. For the rest of the time, this is a legend! And on the contrary, chocolate brings you many benefits. It does not necessarily contribute to weight gain because its component triglycerides are poorly absorbable by adipose tissue and it also contains caffeine and theobromine. In addition, it includes many elements that are most often overlooked…

The nutritional benefits of chocolate:

• Phenol which inhibits the development of microbes on the dental scale and strengthens enamel

• Chocolate is also one of the foods richest in antioxidants ( flavonoids) contained in cocoa powder. The latter play a role in the prevention of certain diseases and help fight against premature aging of cells. (The antioxidant capacity of cocoa would be 2 to 3 times higher than that of green tea and wine)

• Sugars and oleic acids : helps eliminate gallstones

• Cocoa is also an excellent source of magnesium. It helps combat fatigue, stress and anxiety. It also contains tryptophans (= amino acids) which transform and transmit serotonin to the body. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays an essential role in mood since it provides a feeling of calm and well-being, which often leads people to think that chocolate is an antidepressant! Consumption of chocolate also promotes the secretion of endorphins , the hormone of happiness.

• Cocoa, thanks to the fibers it is composed of, helps promote intestinal transit. Thus, the higher the cocoa content of the chocolate, the more fiber it contains. 100g of dark chocolate with 70% cocoa contains, for example, around 15g of fiber, which is more than certain vegetables such as zucchini or cucumber. In addition, chocolate also contains polyphenols which help strengthen the intestinal mucosa helping our immune system...

• Vitamins

 

• Theobromine : boncho dilator capacity, this stimulates the central nervous system and improves muscular capacity

• Mineral salts and trace elements

• Caffeine : helps increase alertness, delays fatigue

• The most complete chocolate is dark chocolate (it contains less sugar). It improves the functioning of the arteries and blood circulation. However, chocolate should still be consumed in moderation because its energy intake remains high with 500kcal per 100g, or 1/4 of our daily needs.

On the other hand, consuming only 2 squares of dark chocolate per day would reduce blood pressure and thus prevent heart problems...

In summary, chocolate has a lot of positive properties. Consumed in moderation and choosing quality, it provides a range of benefits.

So, a small square?