Although chocolate is viewed by
many as junk food that should be avoided, there are some health benefits associated
with eating chocolate. Here are some of them.
Reduces
Risk of Heart Attack
One of the most talked about and
researched benefits of chocolate is quite possibly one of the least expected.
According to Diane Becker, MPH, ScD, a researcher at the world-renowned Johns
Hopkins University School of Medicine, just a few pieces of dark chocolate, consumed
daily, can reduce the risk of a heart attack by as much as 50%.
Per research conducted by Dr.
Becker, blood platelets clot at a slower pace in those who have consumed
chocolate compared to those who have not. Quite obviously, less clotting means
less chance of blood vessel blockage.
According to Dr. Becker, the
flavonols in cocoa beans have been deemed responsible for this conclusion.
Lowers
Blood Pressure And Increases Insulin Sensitivity
In addition to reducing the risk
for heart attack, researchers from the Harvard University School of Public
Health have concluded that cocoa and dark chocolate can lower overall blood
pressure as well as decrease the odds of a person developing diabetes.
Similar to heart attack reducing
qualities, flavonols are also responsible for this conclusion in respect to
improved blood pressure and increased insulin sensitivity.
Boosts
Energy Level
Do you suffer from chronic
fatigue? Consider implementing a small amount of dark chocolate into your daily
diet as a way to boost your overall energy level.
According to Elaine Magee, MPH,
RD, noting the research of Dr. Steve Atkin, PhD, dark chocolate can serve as a
natural stimulant which can improve mood and sleep.
According to a small group study
in England, just over one ounce of 85% dark chocolate was given to people who
had been suffering from symptoms of chronic fatigue for eight weeks. The
results concluded that group members reported feeling less tired after
consuming dark chocolate.
Additionally, no weight gain was
reported during the study. Those responsible for the research believe that
chocolate can enhance sleeping patterns thus resulting in less fatigue.
However, per the documentation, more research needs to be done concerning this
particular health benefit.
Contributes
to Weight Loss
Are you searching for a quick and
easy way to reduce your hunger cravings between meals?
Dr. David Katz, who serves as the
founding director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Centre, notes that
dark chocolate, which is high in fibre, has the ability to suppress your
appetite. This information is quite beneficial, especially for those who are
looking for effective ways to avoid binge snacking while trying to lose weight.
Reliefs
Cough
Due to the chemical known as
theobromine, chocolate can potentially have the ability to suppress activity in
the vagus nerve which can serve the same purpose as traditional cough syrup,
minus the drowsy side effects of codeine.
This information is courtesy of
Maria Belvisi, professor of respiratory pharmacology at the National Heart and
Lung Institute in London.
Improves
Mood
Chocolate contains caffeine and
the aforementioned chemical known as theobromine. These elements coupled with
the increased production of endorphins promoted by the consumption of chocolate
can serve as a way to relieve stress and tension.
In the same way that chocolate
can potentially turn young children into live wires, chocolate also has the
same impact on adults when it comes to mood improvement. If you find yourself
in the midst of a stressful day, consume a piece of chocolate as a way to
change your demeanour. This information is courtesy of the health site Organic
Facts.
Reduces
Risk of Stroke
According to information
documented in The Huffington Post, a 2011 study found that women who consumed
45 grams of chocolate per week had a 20% less chance of suffering a stroke
compared to women who ingested less than nine grams of chocolate over the same
period of time.
While many studies of this nature
are often inconclusive in terms of the general population, the findings are
rather interesting on several different levels.
Works for
Diarrhea
Research conducted by scientists
at the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute in Oakland, California
has uncovered a link between chocolate consumption and decreased diarrhea.
While the findings are rather
unusual on the surface, and potentially quite humorous and unexpected to some,
using chocolate as a remedy for diarrhea dates back to the 16th century
according to Women’s Health Magazine.
In terms of medical evidence, the
research institute discovered that cocoa flavonoids have the ability to work in
conjunction with a natural protein that regulates fluid activity in the small
intestine. The binding of flavonoids to the protein in question can serve as a
way to reduce fluid secretion which essentially eliminates the onset of
diarrhea.
Thank you very much for taking
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