Dark chocolate It owes its extraordinary health properties to the content of cocoa. That’s why the more of it there is in a chocolate bar, the better for our body. As nutritionists emphasize, to benefit from these properties, you should choose dark chocolate containing at least 70%. cocoa.
The Mayans were the first to appreciate the valuable properties of cocoa. They were drinking bitter drinks based on it 7,000 years ago. In their culture, the cocoa tree was considered a sacred plant. Its guardian was the god Ek Chuah, patron of money and merchants. It was brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus, but Europeans they were not delighted with the bitter taste of cocoa fruit.
It was only a few centuries later, when bitter cocoa was mixed with sugar and milk, that it fully won our hearts. This is how chocolate was created – a product with which we celebrate happy moments, improves our mood and, as it turns out, has a positive effect on health, but only in the version with a lot of content .
Dark chocolate containing at least 70% cocoa has a positive effect on health. It has less additional substances such as sugar or cocoa butter, and our body can benefit from many valuable substances contained in cocoa, which includes, among others:
- vitamins B, E, PP,
- magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, iron,
- fiber,
- antioxidants from the polyphenol group.
The high content of antioxidants in dark chocolate has anti-inflammatory properties and neutralizes the effects of free radicals. Thanks to this, it protects the body against many chronic diseases of the circulatory system and cancer. In addition, antioxidants increase the amount of beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus i Bifidobacterium in the intestineswhich is important for digestive processes, the body’s immunity and protection against depression.
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How does chocolate affect our well-being? Our mood is influenced by the cocoa contained in it dopamine, serotonin and tryptophan – substances involved in brain metabolic processes and the production of endorphins, i.e. happiness hormones. Dark chocolate also contains theobromine, which stimulates and improves concentration. Unlike caffeine, however does not raise blood pressure. No wonder that after eating chocolate we have more strength, energy and positive attitude.
Seniors, especially, can take full advantage of the positive properties of cocoa. This group is highly exposed to neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Regular consumption of dark chocolate can significantly reduce the risk of these diseases, which has been proven in many scientific studies.
The antioxidants contained in dark chocolate are positive affect the functioning of the brainbut also protect its cells against damage. Thanks to this, they reduce the risk of, among others: Parkinson or Alzheimer’s.
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How does dark chocolate affect the heart and circulatory system? This was the focus of, among others, scientists from Florida, who published the results of their meta-analysis in the journal “Review in Cardiovascular Medicine”. Dark chocolate increases blood flow in blood vesselsthanks to the stimulation of nitric oxide production. This, in turn, lowers blood pressure, improves blood supply to the brain and reduces the risk of stroke. In addition, dark chocolate lowers cholesterol, thus reducing it risk of atherosclerosis.
Dark chocolate has a low glycemic index of approximately 20. This means that it can also be included in the diet by people with insulin resistance. In turn, the antioxidants it contains reduce the risk of occurrence type 2 diabetes, i.e. diet-related diabetes, which many seniors struggle with.
The more cocoa in the chocolate, the better, but more chocolate in the diet does not necessarily have the same effect. It is worth remembering that dark chocolate is a rich source of fats 100 g of this delicacy provides approximately 500-600 kcalwhich, especially in a senior’s diet, can significantly increase the calorie balance. For this reason, it is worth including it in your diet in moderation and limiting its daily consumption to 1-2 cubes.
Dark chocolate can be eaten as a stand-alone snack, but also as a snack many interesting uses for this sweet delicacy in the kitchen. Monika Zysk from the Teraz cooking portal. It can also become an ideal addition to cakes, cookies, but also morning oatmeal or even meat dishes.
Sources: Terazgotuje.pl
