Often seen as the devil food, the weakness of women and the detriment to all dieters – chocolate may be worth reconsidering.
With current dietary guidelines and specialists claim almost daily that foods have new- found health benefits, we’ve decided to take a closer look into the advantages of chocolate. Being made from the cocoa bean which contains: iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc and the antioxidants Catechin and Procyandins it’s not unsurprising that chocolate does possess a wealth of goodness.However, modern day nutritionists are not quite as forward- thinking as could be regarded considering that the Kuna Indian tribe of Panama have been guzzling cocoa as their main beverage since time gone by. As a tribe that boasts extremely low blood pressure – a common cause of heart disease and strokes, it would appear that such chocolate ‘secrets’ have actually been unearthed for some time and we in the Western world are in fact quite late to the party.So this ‘superfood’ as questionably deemed by the NHS online in a recent article – clearly should be enjoyed guilt- free! Here’s just some of the reasons why you should get munching:
1) Prevents memory decline
It’s been suggested that two cups of hot chocolate a day could assist in maintaining the health of our brains and resisting memory loss.Cocoa also stimulates substances like Caffeine and Theobromine, which helps in explaining why chocolate can improve short term brain functions – no wonder we all need plentiful amounts during revision time!
2) Offers sun protection
This is due to the bioactive compounds. The Flavonals protect against sun induced damage by improving blood flow to the skin and increasing skin density and hydration. Although your bikini bod might not, experts actually support the notion that we should stock up on choc prior to holidaying in the sun. In order to keep sun damage at bay, we should be aspiring to summer bodies with a delicious few chocolate rolls!
3) Acts as an aphrodisiac
Although they arguably look slightly ridiculous, the girls amorously indulging into chocolate flavoured products in advertisement campaigns are only melodramatically conveying the natural amativeness of chocolate.This is due to the phenylethylamine (PEA) compound which releases the same mood- altering endorphins that flood our bodies during sex and intensify feelings of attraction and desire. So chocolate can increase desire, performance and sexual satisfaction
4) Aids in Weight Loss
Apparently this tasty treat can actually be the centrifuge of ‘a healthy diet’ – so no need to sigh in despair when you depressingly read on food packaging that it can be enjoyed in accordance with.Maybe, where you’ve really been going wrong all along is attempting to avoid the bountifully nutritious brown treat!Dark chocolate (creamy milk really was too good to be true,) with its bitter taste wards off cravings for sweet, salty and fatty foods so helps to maintain a stable diet, keeping surplus pounds at bay!
5) Acts as a cough relief
Thanks to the theobrime it contains, the tasty treat is able to suppress activity in the vagus nerve – the part of the brain responsible for cough stimulation.Health care professionals have also highlighted chocolate’s superiority as a cough remedy over Codeine – which often violates patients leaving them to feel sleepy and dull. Top work chocolate.
6) Assists in diarrhoea relief
Chocolate has been used as a blissful bowel corrector since the 16th century within South American and European cultures.
Unsurprisingly this is again possible due to the trusty plant metabolites, flavonoids. Here they function by binding to a protein that regulates fluid secretion in the small intestine, potentially terminating the trots in their tracks.
7) Decreases risk of cavities
To the dismay of Willy Wonka’s father, chocolate has been noted as a prevention against tooth decay. The alkaloid Theobromine enables a hardening of the tooth enamel – so contrary to popular belief, cutting our cocoa consumption could be quite damaging for our dental bill.
8) Increases intelligence
Hallelujah, looks like there is a simple study solution to evade slogging out in Billy B! And we all know you can’t eat in the library, so may as well flee and devour that hidden bar.Whilst this action plan arguably may not be the most productive – linked to memory retention and function – chocolate has been found to encourage aptitude. After prolonged consumption, chocolate eaters have scored significantly higher on cognitive tests than their deprived counterparts.
9) Balances cholesterol
Currently, the nation lead by health professionals, are becoming increasingly aware of cholesterol levels. An abundance of low density lipoproteins (LDL) can be a risk factor for strokes, cancer and diabetes in conjunction with a magnitude of other dietary related diseases. Studies have shown that dark chocolate can help to increase ‘good’ high density lipoproteins (HDL), whilst lowering ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol – which helps to restore a natural balance. This benefit can again be attributed to the cocoa Flavanals as well as the plant sterols entrapped within the little beans.
10) Reduces stress
It’s not a mere placebo, chocolate does irrefutably decrease stress levels.
Stimulating an increase in Serotonin and Endorphin levels in the brain, chocolate has been proved to be a great mood enhancer – ironically, much like exercise! As well as this, repeated consumption of this medicinal substance also reduces the stress hormone cortisol. So if you can manage to endure it, eating a few squares may improve your wellbeing. Mothers have also been found to give birth to much happier infants after stocking up on this delightful desert. You go mums!
So, it looks like chocolate really could be the answer to many of life’s problems!
Despite it’s high fat content, chocolate is evidently quite essential in maintain a healthy lifestyle and well-being, so before you reconsider that extra Cadbury’s chunk, scoff it in and then congratulate yourself on your superb life choices!