Few foods evoke as much passion as chocolate. Fortunately, this is an example, when you can have your chocolate and eat because many studies have confirmed that chocolate is actually good for you.
However, chocolate is not all created equal. Only dark chocolate is healthy, not milk chocolate, not white chocolate and any combination in between.
Why dark chocolate is healthy?
Chocolate is made from cocoa beans (cocoa), which comes from plants. This means that it contains many health benefits of dark vegetables. Cocoa contains flavonoid compounds that are found in natural plants. Flavonoids act as antioxidants to help the body cells to resist damage caused by free radicals that are generated by normal metabolism, immune system and environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides.
It is proved that the consumption of dark chocolate may:
Drop in blood pressure in people with hypertension.
How to choose the healthiest chocolate?
A new 2009 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry compared the cocoa content antioxidants commercially available cocoa and chocolate products containing marketed in the United States.
The study concluded that the products with the highest level of antioxidants were (in descending order):
Sugar, unprocessed cocoa powder
Chocolate unsweetened baking
Dark chocolate
Semisweet chocolate chips
Milk chocolate
Chocolate sauce
The study found that the health benefits of chocolate are mainly antioxidants present in cocoa. It is therefore not surprising that pure cocoa powder is a number of health benefits.
The typical commercial cocoa is processed with alkali to produce a darker flavour, richer. So if you want a cup of hot chocolate healthy choice untreated, non-alkaline, cocoa powder (not Dutch-processed cocoa) and add your own sweetener and milk.
When dark chocolate purchase, find a high quality that has been minimally processed. The chocolate should not contain nasty ingredients such as soybean oil, corn syrup or artificial flavours.
Be careful of the dark chocolate type you choose. Avoid toppings caramel, nougat, marshmallow, or are simply sugar and extra fat.
Avoid milk chocolate because it contains very little antioxidant-rich cocoa. Research also shows that the protein in milk chocolate can bind with antioxidants and make them less easily absorbed by the body. So to get the most antioxidant benefit, do not wash your chocolate with a glass of milk.
Avoid white chocolate because it contains no cocoa. White chocolate is just fat and sugar.
Who should not eat chocolate?
Despite all the positive research, this is not a license to consume as much dark chocolate as you want. If you're struggling with all serious diseases such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension or cancer, you should refrain from eating chocolate like most chocolate contains sugar and depresses the immune system.
If you have acne or rashes similar to acne chocolate will probably worsen the skin condition.
If you suffer from migraines, chemicals in chocolate can trigger headaches.
If you have intense cravings for chocolate, it is likely that you are not eating the right balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates for your metabolic type. If you tend to seek comfort from chocolate when you are angry, angry, bored, lonely or depressed, you have deep emotional unresolved issues that must be addressed.
The Bottom Line
It is undeniable that chocolate contains flavonoids with powerful antioxidant effects. While chocolate may be a preferred choice to treat, it is not advisable to enter. Chocolate is a perfect example of less is more. Keep in mind that the best option is raw cacao (cocoa bean) or untreated cocoa powder, followed by dark chocolate. If you choose more commercial chocolate, highly processed, do not expect to be healthy.
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