Chocolate: health food?

Ah, chocolate. The world’s favorite dish. At one thing in the world dies and needs. The dark, aromatic treat just the passion, romance and happiness. But it attractive and well-loved by all? Maya 2600 years Mexico has already drinking chocolate. The cocoa beans for them, was the ultimate symbol of status. In 1500, adopted Aztecs

Mayan love of chocolate and associated with Xochiquetzal, the goddess of fertility. A drink called chocolatl, which was made of chocolate mixed with herbs and spices, is a popular drink at the time. During the Pre-Columbian Central American time, chocolate is a luxury item between the last name in Europe. The famous travellers

Christopher Columbus cocoa beans sent to Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. Later, Hernando Cortez has more of them to Europe and the rest is history.

There have been many discussions on chocolate is a health food. So far, studies have shown promising results. Some of them.

Chocolate has proved to be a rich source of 400 compounds, which fromn vitamins minerals such as potassium, magnesium, copper, calcium and iron. Is the polyphenols, phytochemicals that contribute to increasing the body's natural defenses against disease?

Of all types of chocolate, dark chocolate seems the most promising in terms of health, a topic and in some scientific studies.

Due to the high percentage of cocoa, chocolate, black is a rich source of flavanoids.

Flavanoids are also present in red wine, green tea and apples, but dark chocolate has more antioxidants per gram each of them. Flavanoids that are antioxidants May prevent a heart attack, stroke, dementia and hypertension.

Recently conducted a study of Switzerland suggested that eating dark chocolate daily, which reduces the hardening of the arteries in smokers. A group led by Dr. Roberto Corti

University Hospital of Zurich assigned 20 men smokers not to eat any flavanoid-rich food for a whole day before the study. This was done eating, or 1.50 grams of white chocolate or black.

In a report published in the January issue of Heart, ultrasound showed a better flow of blood through the arteries, which will last for 8 hours.

Blood tests have shown that the activity of blood platelets have been reduced by half, thus reducing the risk of blood clot. The level of antioxidants in the blood increased by those who ate dark chocolate.

A study published in 2004 suggests that at least 1.6 beef dark chocolate every day for 2 weeks, could lead to an increase of 10% of arterial blood flow.

Dark chocolate is lower blood pressure by an average of 10%, while improving the body’s sensitivity to insulin. This is in agreement with Jeffrey B.

Blumberg and his team of Tuft University. In his study, 10 middle and 10 women ate 3.5 grams of dark chocolate every day for 15 days. Prices have suffered from hypertension, but not on drugs. The results showed a sharp drop of their blood pressure eat dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate has
stearic acid, the type that do not raise cholestrol or damage the blood vessels. You can stop the oxidation of LDL or bad cholesterol.

Milk chocolate, but seems to have good qualities, too. A study suggests that chocolate milk May stimulate brain function. In a survey conducted by a team led by Dr. Bryan Raudenbush of Wheeling Jesuit University in WV, a group of volunteers were made to eat 4 times the 85 grams of milk chocolate, 85 grams of dark chocolate, 85 grams of carob or nothing. After 15 minutes of digestion, they got to complete the tasks computer0based neuropsychological.

The results showed the group the highest score for milk chocolate than in any other circumstance. The chocolate is theobromine, caffeine and phenethylamine - substances that act as stimulants, which, in turn, increase vigilance and attention.

But despite the good news on chocolate, caution is aware of persons against which to eat for health reasons. On the one hand, consumers have no way to determine if the chocolate is rich in falavanoid or not. Most chocolate is not available in rich countries
flavanoids, according to health experts. And we all know that chocolate is rich in fat and sugar, leading to weight gain.