Health Benefits of Chocolate

It is more of a myth than reality that chocolates have only harmful effects. According to some recent studies, dark chocolates or cocoa have a certain benefit on your health. With its high cocoa content, dark chocolates are a rich source of gallic acid and falconoid epicatechin which is good for the cardiovascular health of human beings. The antioxidant action of cocoa protects us from LDL oxidation. If one person consumes 100g of dark chocolate daily, then his or her blood pressure is likely to be reduced. ‘Chocolate diet’ is a particular kind of fad diet where chocolate and cocoa powder is eaten in capsules. Above all, chocolates are rich in calorie and high in fat content. Two thirds of the fat gained from chocolate is offered in the form of a saturated fat called stearic acid and a monosaturated fat known as oleic acid. But the level of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream does not get raised with stearic acids , on the contrary, as some studies have suggested,. eating chocolate decreases serum LDL cholesterol levels.

Some research works show that chocolates are very good at preventing relentless coughing. Chocolate , for some unknown reason, appears to moisten the throat. It has been found that theobromine; a major component of chocolate is one third more powerful than codeine the top cough medicine , could be that this is the reason . Though it has been stated that chocolates contain one of the highest concentrations of lead, the US Food and Drug Administration have mentioned that levels of lead in chocolate are quite low. So, people who eat lots of chocolate everyday need not worry about their health. The anti-oxidants of chocolate are great for glowing skin and a healthy complexion. On the other hand, if milk is mixed with chocolate it can give way to the eruption of pimples and acne. Through the years, chocolates have always been seen as some form of aphrodisiac for whatever reason. Could it be that the sheer pleasure one obtains from eating chocolatet drives one on to even further delights ?

Recent studies have suggested that serotonin and other chemicals such as phenethylamine, often described as a ‘love chemical’, can act as mild sexual stimulants. People present chocolates as gifts to one’s Valentine. Chocolate bars carry large amounts of sugar. Tryptophan, present in chocolate, is an essential amino acid and acts as a precursor to Serotonin which is an imperative neurotransmitter concerned with regulating moods. The Caffeine present in chocolate energizes one self whereas Anandamide is an endogenous cannabinoid. We get enormous pleasure by eating chocolates, as its melting point is somewhat below human body temperature. The release of Serotonin produces feeling of pleasure. Chocolates also set off dopamine release in the reinforcement systems of the brain. Cocoa-based medicine / drugs can sometimes help in the healing of diabetes and dementia.