Chocolate is one kind of food that has many benefits for health, also can be used for beauty treatment (ie. Chocolate face mask). In this post we will discuss more about Chocolate health benefits. Although, the content of sugar contained in chocolate may increase your weight, tooth decay, or can cause diabetes, but it also contains many good things that benefit the body. Chocolate contains antioxidants that can maintain heart health, lowers blood pressure and in terms of the human psyche, chocolate can cause feelings of relaxation.
Chocolate that contains of cacao (or cacao beans) more than 70% has many benefits for health, because it has great amount of antioxidants (phenols and flavonoids). With antioxidants, it will be able to capture free radicals in the body. Moreover, the amount of antioxidant in chocolate even 3 times bigger than green tea, beverages that often regarded as a source of antioxidants.
Chocolate health benefits – High level of antioxidants makes chocolate becomes one of healthy drinks. Phenol, as an antioxidant capable of reducing cholesterol level in the blood (to keep blood vessels elastic), so that it can reduce the risk of heart attack, also useful to prevent cancer disease, preventing the occurrence of stroke and hypertension. In addition, high quality chocolate’s fat is cholesterol-free and not clog the arteries.
Chocolate also contains some vitamins that are beneficial for the body such as vitamin A, B1, C, D, and E. In addition, chocolate also contains substances and nutrients that are essential for the body such as iron, potassium and calcium. Cacao is the highest natural source of magnesium. For your information, magnesium deficiency can cause hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, joint pain and pre-menstrual-syndrome (PMS) problems. Eating or drinking chocolate will give you additional magnesium nutrition in daily nutrient intake. For women, it can increase the levels of progesterone, which will reduce the negative effects of pre-menstrual-syndrome.
Healthiest Type Of Chocolate
In general, there are three categories / types of chocolate:
1. Dark Chocolate
Dark Chocolate contains highest cacao beans (cacao), for at least 70%. It makes Dark chocolate the healthiest type of chocolate. Dark chocolate has most cacaos, without a lot of sugar and no trans fats or hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO).
2. White Chocolate
White chocolate has only 33% of cacao. The rest is sugar, milk and vanilla. This sugar content can give negative effects, such as tooth decay and diabetes.
3. Milk Chocolate
Milk chocolate is cacao mixed with milk and sugar. This type of chocolate is also very popular because it tastes delicious.
Be Selective Before You Buy Chocolate
Many types of chocolate are available in the market. Some chocolate brands are expensive, some are cheap. However, price can reflect quality. Cheap chocolate products usually contain low cacao (less than 20%), some chocolate products even less than 7%. This type of chocolate has high level of sugar, high saturated fat level and other vices such as hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), which causes tooth decay and health problems like diabetes. To get maximum chocolate health benefits, only consume high quality chocolate. So, be careful before you buy, read the nutrition facts and choose chocolate products only from the trusted brands.
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Good posting on chocolate. I love chocolate…
Now, we have a better reason to eat chocolates. Besides, Cacao from where chocolates are derived from really has a lot of health benefits. Good luck and Enjoy your holidays!
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