"I have never met a chocolate that I didn’t like." Dinna Troy in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Aztec Indians believe that cocoa seeds came from Paradise, and people who ate the fruits of the cocoa tree possessed unusual wisdom and strength. The legend probably has some truth. The Coons, living on the islands of Panama San Blas, drink more than four cups of homemade cocoa a week - not only happy, but rarely have high blood pressure or heart disease.
English traders called them cocoa beans and were forced to go far to buy them. Chocolate is now available worldwide. Someone once said: “Nine out of ten people love chocolate. The tenth person always lies. ” Chocolate pretends to be a clear name for what it is most eager for food. And some people have become addicted to it. This popularity stems from the fact that she feels good. effects. Chocolate not only tastes, but also stimulates the endogenous production of endorphins, it gives a feeling of pleasure. It also contains theobromine and caffeine, which are stimulants. It also contains a small amount of serotonin, an antidepressant. One day the patient concluded: “Chocolate is cheaper than therapy and you don’t need a meeting.”
Over the past few years, scientific publications have significantly increased the cardio-protective benefits associated with eating chocolate. In a December 18, 2004 issue of the British Medical Journal, Dr. Oscar X Franco from the Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands objectively analyzed data that 100 g of antioxidant-rich dark chocolate lowered systolic blood pressure by 5.1 mm Hg and diastolic pressure 1.8 mm Hg. Art. They determined that this led to a 21% reduction in the risk of heart disease. In another study, published in the journal Hypertension in August 2006, Dr. Fisher noted that healthy adults who drank cocoa with flavonoids daily for four to six days improved blood vessel function. An essay presented at scientific sessions of the American Heart Association on November 14, 2006, demonstrating that eating chocolate slows down clotting. D. Grassi and his research colleagues reported in a medical journal that hypertension, that eating dark chocolate was associated with a decrease in cholesterol levels of bad LDL, as well as improved insulin resistance - heart-friendly effects.
It appears that the healthy effects of cocoa on the cardiovascular system are due to their flavonol content. These natural antioxidants improve the function of the blood vessels by altering the body's production of nitric oxide, which regulates the tone of the blood vessels. Other mechanisms may also play a role.
Arnold Ismach writes in The Dark Side of Chocolate: “All the evil that people pile on chocolate really deserves milk chocolate, which is essentially polluted, cocoa beans), the cleaner it is, the more it satisfies it, the safer it is and healthier ". And this is confirmed from a medical point of view. All candies are not created equal. Almost half of the beneficial flavonoids are consumed while making standard chocolate. Most commercially available snacks are not only low in natural cocoa and flavonols, but also in high calories. While dark chocolate is more expensive and may not be as sweet as white chocolate, it is unhealthy. White chocolate is made from milk, and epicatechins, the healthy hearts of flavonols in cocoa, seem to be associated with milk proteins, which makes them less effective. Dairy products can also inhibit the absorption of flavonoids in the body from other foods.
Once said chocoholic. “I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process ... Maybe it’s not true, but would I risk taking advantage of it?” Well, medical evidence seems to confirm this. Especially when it comes to blood vessels and the heart. So if you like chocolates, rejoice. But remember, when it comes to eating chocolate, it is no longer necessarily better, but definitely darker.
