AVI
E.G.M Israel International Health & Natural Diet Marketing Advertise
Is Eating
Chocolate Really Healthy?
We've been hearing lately about the health benefits of
chocolate, but before you run out to the store to buy a candy bar you should
know all of the facts.
Flavonols in
Raw chocolate is rich in flavonols
which are found in high concentration in the cocoa bean. Flavonols are part
of a group of phytonutrients called polyphenols which have proven health benefits when consumed
as a part of our diet. (Polyphenols are
also the reason health benefits are attributed to red wine).
Flavonols and Our Blood Vessels
Research has shown that flavonols
improve blood vessel function. A study
has been done on the Kuna Indians, living on an island off the coast of
Flavonols and Our Brain
Researchers believe that this benefit may also extend
to blood vessels in the brain and could have an effect on memory and learning.
British researchers have studied effects of cocoa
consumption on young women by studying their brain activity via MRI while
performing complex mental tasks.
Consumption of cocoa high in epicatechin (the
special flavonol found in cocoa) resulted in
increased blood flow to specific areas of the brain for as long as 3
hours. This could mean that cocoa flavonols may have a potential as a treatment for vascular
brain damage.
Not All Chocolate Was Created
Equal
Consuming small amounts of chocolate can protect our
heart and may even help protect our brain function as we age. However, researchers are all in agreement:
the greatest benefits come from minimally processed dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate has anti-oxidant properties that help
protect our cells. It appears that
adding milk to chocolate cancels out the anti-oxidant effect. Researchers believe that the protein in milk
binds to the flavonols which then lowers the body's
ability to absorb them.
Chocolate Addiction
Chocolate can be addicting and affects the same
centers in the brain as many recreational drugs do. If you have strong cravings for chocolate and
find it impossible to eat just a few squares at a time, you may be addicted to
it and should seek the professional health of a naturopath. Chocolate addiction, or addiction to any
other substance such as coffee or sugar, could be a sign of imbalanced
neurotransmitters in the brain. In
several studies, chocolate addicts have shown to be more likely to suffer from
other eating disorders and are more prone to suffer from depression.
Moderation
Chocolate, even if it is dark chocolate, still
contains simple sugar, and eating sugar is one of the most harmful things to
our health. If you suffer from a chronic
health problem, one of the most important things you can do is eliminate simple
sugars from your diet completely. If you
are healthy, small amounts of chocolate in your diet should not be a problem.
Guidelines
Flavonols have been proven to have great health
benefits, but they are found in abundance in nature- in vegetables and fruits, especially
in blueberries which are one of the richest sources of anti-oxidants on
earth. If you love chocolate and want to
continue enjoying it go ahead, but follow these general guidelines:
1. Consume chocolate in moderation.
2. Eat only
dark chocolate that is high in cocoa (70% or more is best).
3. Eat
chocolate only if you are healthy.
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