You may be delighted to hear about the health benefits of treating yourself to some chocolate. Its botanic name theobroma cacao translated means "Food of the Gods". This delicious food came to the European continent in the 16th century, as one of the valuable discoveries which came with the exploration of America. The Aztecs enjoyed chocolate several hundred years earlier and knew some of their medicinal properties, and used the ground cocoa bean to make a bitter drink, often mixed with chilli, particularly for use at ceremonial times. Chocolate drink became fashionable in the Victorian years, and the invention of the process to make milk chocolate paved the way to it becoming widely popular as a favourite drink, dessert or treat.
In the UK more than 500 000 tons of chocolate are consumed per year (1). In 2001 the UK consumption of chocolate was 17.40 lbs or a bit more than 7.89 kg per person per year. However, this is only 7th place world wide. In the lead is Switzerland with 22.36 lbs or 10.55 kg chocolate consumed per capita every year.
As chocolate products contain high amounts of fat (typically 30%) they are usually high in energy, which promotes weight gain. One pound of milk chocolate has about 2300 calories which is about the daily energy requirement of an average adult.
Many positive health effects of eating chocolate have been reported.
The Journal of Nutrition 2000: 130: 2115-2119 reported dark chocolate consumption associated with reducing free radical levels in the human body, thought to be due to antioxidants in dark chocolate. The more chocolate a person ate the more significant was the effect. Reduction in free radicals has been associated with reduction in cardio-vascular disease, cancer and cellular aging.
An anti-inflammatory effect has been described in several studies (ARYA Journal 2005; 1 (1): 29-35).
Chocolate as treatment against diarrhea has been known in South America as well as Europe and makes it for many an enjoyable treatment.
Theobromine in the cacao has been reported as helping against fatigue, and researchers have shown a positive effect of chocolate on the release of endorphins - 'happy hormones'. The Journal of Public Health Nutrition published an article in 1999 demonstrating a positive effect of chocolate on improving peoples mood, and stimulating release of serotonin and endorphins. This may have inspired J. K. Rowling to use chocolate as a remedy against dementor attacks!
In 2006 the Archives of Internal Medicine published a study of chocolate consumption in elderly men demonstrating a lowering effect on blood pressure.
Just recently, an Australian study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2010 has found that women eating chocolate at least once a week had significantly lower risk of suffering from ischemic heart disease including heart attacks, heart failure or other health problems related to arteriosclerosis. The women in the study ate about 1.5 grams of cocoa a day. As this is not the first time cardio-vascular benefits associated with chocolate consumption have been reported further studies may well follow and no shortage of participants is expected. Who would not accept suffering eating chocolate to aid scientific discoveries?
So chocolate may not need to be a guilty pleasure after all - in moderation it may prove not just good for the soul, but good for the body, too!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=K_S_Wuest
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6030733
In the UK more than 500 000 tons of chocolate are consumed per year (1). In 2001 the UK consumption of chocolate was 17.40 lbs or a bit more than 7.89 kg per person per year. However, this is only 7th place world wide. In the lead is Switzerland with 22.36 lbs or 10.55 kg chocolate consumed per capita every year.
As chocolate products contain high amounts of fat (typically 30%) they are usually high in energy, which promotes weight gain. One pound of milk chocolate has about 2300 calories which is about the daily energy requirement of an average adult.
Many positive health effects of eating chocolate have been reported.
The Journal of Nutrition 2000: 130: 2115-2119 reported dark chocolate consumption associated with reducing free radical levels in the human body, thought to be due to antioxidants in dark chocolate. The more chocolate a person ate the more significant was the effect. Reduction in free radicals has been associated with reduction in cardio-vascular disease, cancer and cellular aging.
An anti-inflammatory effect has been described in several studies (ARYA Journal 2005; 1 (1): 29-35).
Chocolate as treatment against diarrhea has been known in South America as well as Europe and makes it for many an enjoyable treatment.
Theobromine in the cacao has been reported as helping against fatigue, and researchers have shown a positive effect of chocolate on the release of endorphins - 'happy hormones'. The Journal of Public Health Nutrition published an article in 1999 demonstrating a positive effect of chocolate on improving peoples mood, and stimulating release of serotonin and endorphins. This may have inspired J. K. Rowling to use chocolate as a remedy against dementor attacks!
In 2006 the Archives of Internal Medicine published a study of chocolate consumption in elderly men demonstrating a lowering effect on blood pressure.
Just recently, an Australian study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2010 has found that women eating chocolate at least once a week had significantly lower risk of suffering from ischemic heart disease including heart attacks, heart failure or other health problems related to arteriosclerosis. The women in the study ate about 1.5 grams of cocoa a day. As this is not the first time cardio-vascular benefits associated with chocolate consumption have been reported further studies may well follow and no shortage of participants is expected. Who would not accept suffering eating chocolate to aid scientific discoveries?
So chocolate may not need to be a guilty pleasure after all - in moderation it may prove not just good for the soul, but good for the body, too!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=K_S_Wuest
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6030733
