Efficacy CHOCHOLATE TO KNOW ( Health Benefits of Chocolate )

Health Benefits of Chocolate

Mmm...chocolate. The product of the cacao tree has been winning fans since Aztec leader Montezuma introduced the beverage (chocolate candy as we know it didn't appear until the 1800's) to the Spanish conqueror Cortez, who subsequently took it home to Spain. (While the original drink was rather bitter, the Spanish made a few creative innovations - using sugar instead of chilies, and adding cinnamon and vanilla).

What is it that makes chocolate so irresistible? A large part of chocolate's allure, of course, lies in the taste - a deliciously rich concoction that satisfies the most intense craving. But several chemical reactions are also at work. For one thing, chocolate stimulates the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasureable sensation similar to the "runner's high" a jogger feels after running several miles.

Chocolate also contains a neurotransmitter, serotonin, that acts as an anti-depressant. Other substances, such as theobromine and phenylethylamine, have a stimulating effect. However, the truth is that scientists are still not positive how the over three-hundred chemicals contained in chocolate make us feel so good.  

Harmful Effects?

With so much going for it, it's unfortunate that chocolate has developed a bad reputation on the health front. Confirmed chocoholics often worry that indulging their craving will lead to everything from rotting teeth to acne, not to mention the need to lose a few pounds.

Fortunately, scientists are beginning to disprove some common myths about the dangers of eating too much chocolate. For example, it is not true that eating chocolate can cause acne or make it worse. Nor is chocolate the threat to healthy teeth that it was once thought to be. While both cocoa and chocolate contain sugar, they also have properties that work against sugar's tendency to produce the oral bacteria that eventually leads to dental decay. In fact, researchers at the Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York, have concluded that milk chocolate is one of the snack foods that is least likely to contribute to tooth decay, since it contains phosphate and other minerals.

Furthermore, while chocolate may not be the most healthy snack around, it does contain a number of nutrients. High in potassium and magnesium, chocolate also provides us with several vitamins - including B1, B2, D, and E. As for calories, no one is going to claim chocolate is the quintessential diet food. Still, the average chocolate bar contains approximately 250 calories - low enough for a dieter to enjoy one as an occasional treat. Besides, indulging your chocolate craving from time to time can help prevent the bingeing that is a dieter's worst enemy.

The Asian Connection

Traditionally, Asia has not been known for its high level of chocolate consumption. This isn’t surprising, since the cacao tree is native to the tropical regions of Central and South America (although Filipinos have been able to enjoy their own homemade version of powdered chocolate since the Spanish introduced the cacao tree to the Philippines in the 16th century). However, things are changing. Chocolate consumption in China has increased by forty percent since 1992. And in 1997 Bernard Callebaut, the famous chocolate manufacturer, felt confident enough of Asians' fondness for chocolate to open a factory in Singapore. As a concession to Asian tastes the chocolate is less sweet; it also has a higher melting point.

In 2005, the Beijing Hyatt hosted a chocolate fashion show, where the models were draped in “clothing” made from different types of chocolate (Source: the Asian Times). While chocolate consumption is still much lower in China than in Europe or North America, the market is growing steadily, as the Chinese develop a taste for the sweet treat.

Efficacy CHOCHOLATE TO KNOWChocolate is known as a tasty snack and is a food that could damage your teeth quickly indirectly. Small children for example would rather choose to eat chocolate instead of eating rice or drinking milk. Not only children, youth and elderly subjects was also pleased. Essentially chocolate is a favorite food with varying prices and readily available.Definition of brownThe word chocolate comes from xocoatl (Aztec language) that means a bitter drink. The Aztecs and the Maya in Mexico believe that the god of Agriculture has sent chocolate that comes from heaven to them. Cortes then took him to Spain between the years 1502-1528, and by the Spaniards bitter drink was mixed sugar so it tastes better. Brown then spread to France, Holland and England. In the year 1765 chocolate factory was established in Massachusetts, USA.In its development, chocolate is not only a beverage but also become the preferred snack of children, adolescents, and adults. Besides it feels good, it turns out nutritious chocolate make life a person becomes longer. An epidemiological study has been conducted at Harvard University students who enrolled between the years 1916-1950. By using a food frequency questionnaire collected information about the habits of eating candy or chocolate at Harvard University students.Savor chocolateBy controlling the physical activity undertaken, smoking, and eating habits found that those who love to eat sweets / chocolates age one year longer than non-eaters. Allegedly phenol antioxidants contained in chocolate is the reason why they could outlive. Phenol is also found in red wine that is well known as a good drink for heart health. Brown has the ability to inhibit oxidation of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and increase immune function, which can prevent the risk of coronary heart disease and cancer.Dr. Hui Rutai study of "the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences" and "Peking Union Medical College" in Beijing, China, and colleagues concluded that chocolate only help people who have risk factors and heart disease when consumed in excessive amounts does not. As mentioned in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.A study released in March showed that of 19,300 people, those who ate the most chocolate has blood pressure of more lace. In addition they also have a smaller chance of suffering a stroke or heart attack during the next 10 years.However, the researchers issued a warning, the differences in the consumption of chocolate among the group who consumed the most chocolate and is at least approximately six grams. Hui and colleagues seek medical records to find a study that examines how chocolate affects blood fats, or lipids, and found eight trials involving 215 people.When all studies were analyzed together, the researchers found that eating chocolate reduces levels of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol up to five milligrams / dL and reduced total cholesterol in the same amount.Other analysis shows, only people who eat a little chocolate with 260 milligrams of polyphenols, or less able to experience the impact of lowering cholesterol. But it does not affect people who eat more chocolate.Polyphenols are anti-oxidants found in fruits, vegetables, brown and white wine. One rod weighing 1.25 ounces milk chocolate contains about 300 milligrams of polyphenols.The researchers also found that healthy people do not get the cholesterol lowering effects of cocoa. As for people with heart disease risk factors, such as diabetes, chocolate can lower their LDL cholesterol levels and the cholesterol fell by 8 milligrams / respectively.As long as there is the notion that chocolate causes caries of the teeth and may also be responsible for the emergence of the problem of obesity. Undeniable that obesity is one risk factor for degenerative diseases. But studies at Harvard University shows that if you balance the consumption of chocolate candy with enough physical activity and eating a balanced diet, then the negative effects of chocolate candy is not much to worry about.The Maya and chocolateAccording to the Mayan belief, chocolate is the food of the gods. The original flavor of the cocoa bean is actually due to a bitter alkaloid content, but after going through the engineering process can be produced chocolate as a food liked by anyone. Cocoa beans contain 31% fat, carbohydrate 14% and 9% protein. Chocolate is rich in protein amino acid tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine. Although chocolate contains high fat, but relatively easy to rancidity because chocolate also contains polyphenols (6%) which functions as an antioxidant deterrent.In the United States of chocolate consumption contributes only 1% of total fat intake as stated by the National Food Consumption Survey (1987-1998). This amount is relatively small, especially when compared with the contribution of meat (30%), cereals (22%), and milk (20%). Fat in chocolate, cocoa butter is often called, is mostly composed of saturated fat (60%), especially stearate. But brown fat is vegetable fat which does not contain cholesterol. To keep pressing the saturated fat that is not too high, it is better to limit eating chocolate just one cigarette per day and consume mebatasi supplement or other food containing catechins such as apple and tea.In research involving human subjects, found that consumption of brown fat generate total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol lower than the consumption of butter or beef fat. So even though both contain saturated fat but the effect of cholesterol produced different. High content of stearic acid in chocolate which was allegedly the cause of why brown fat is not as bad as animal fat. Has long been known that stearic acid is neutral fat that will not trigger blood cholesterol. Why? Stearate was slowly digested by our bodies and also absorbed less.A third of the fat contained in chocolate is oleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid. Oleic acid is also predominantly found in olive oil. Epidemiological studies in Mediterranean populations who consume lots of oleic acid from olive oil oleic concluded positive effect on heart health.Eating chocolate is allowedOften the question arises how much we should mengkonsusmi chocolate? There is no definitive recommendation for this nutrient, however, 2-3 times a week eating chocolate or drinking chocolate milk per day would still be acceptable. Principles of nutrition is actually easy to eat all foods in moderation. Nutritional problems generally arise when we eat too much or too little.Eating chocolate will not cause addiction, but for some delicious chocolate may cause the desire to consume them again. This is called a chocolate craving. The impact of chocolate on behavior and mood (mood) is closely associated with chocolate craving. Love chocolate could be due to its aroma, texture, sweet-bitter and so on. It is also often associated with the content of phenylethylamine which is a substance similar to amphetanine which can increase uptake of tryptophan into the brain which then in turn produce dopamine. Impact of dopamine is emerging feelings of pleasure and improved mood. Phenylethylamine is also considered to have aphrodisiac properties that gave rise to a feeling like someone in love (heart flowers). It is said that King Montezuma in antiquity always drunk chocolate before rotating harem harem-different every night.Catechins are powerful antioxidants contained in chocolate. One function of antioxidants is to prevent premature aging that can occur due to pollution or radiation. Catechins are also found in tea although the amount is not as high on chocolate. Parents often ancient practice of tea wash my face with water because it can make facial skin radiant and youthful. If they know that chocolate contains a higher than tea catechins, maybe they would recommend a bath scrub with brown.Chocolate also contains theobromine and caffeine. Both substances have been known to give effect to those who consume awake. Therefore when we are dozing off at the airport or waiting for long queues, eating chocolate potent enough to make us excited again.Chocolate products is quite diverse. For example, there is a mixture of milk chocolate sweet chocolate, cocoa butter, sugar and milk. There are also bitter chocolate which is a natural brown and contains 43% cocoa solids. This type of chocolate can be found in some products chocolate bars. Nutritional content of chocolate can be seen in the table.Nutritional substances Bitter Chocolate Milk Chocolate• Energy (Cal) 381 504• Protein (g) 9 5.5• Fat (g) 35.9 52.9• Calcium (mg) 200 98• Phosphorus (mg) 200 446• Vitamin A (SI) 30 60Until now, there has been no evidence that chocolate cause acne. Chocolate also can not be said to be the main cause of dental plaque due to the emergence of dental plaque can also occur in people who consume regular meals daily. It's just chocolate should really pay attention, especially for people who are prone to suffer from kidney stones. Consumption of 100 g of chocolate will increase the excretion of oxalate and calcium tripled. Therefore, healthy tips that can be recommended is to drink plenty of water after eating chocolate.