Overusing foods that are too fatty or sugary is definitely not good. This leads not only to excess weight, but also - in the long run - to health problems. The good news is that chocolate made from natural ingredients and low in sugar in moderation can be part of a healthy diet.
Choose a bitter type of chocolate (70 percent cocoa and more) - it has the most nutrients and less sugar. For milk chocolate, the proportion changes in the opposite way - less benefit, more sugar. In white "chocolate", one might say, there is nothing useful. Inexpensive chocolate bars can also be useless and dangerous to health: valuable nutrients in them are often replaced by analogs that are cheap for industrial production.
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Chocolate is good for the brain
Like white wine and green tea, dark chocolate contains the powerful antioxidant epicatechin, which, among other things, protects the brain from the formation of amyloid plaques, a problem with Alzheimer's disease.
Chocolate soothes coughs
Indulge in good chocolate when you have a cold or bronchitis. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which suppresses coughing.
Chocolate improves mood
All this talk about chocolate making you happier really has a foundation. When we eat chocolate, the sensations we get from its smell and taste triggers our brains to release serotonin, which helps maintain our mood. This is such a well-established mechanism that if you want to avoid eating chocolate, you can limit yourself to one smell (there are several similar perfumes), and this will already have a positive effect. In addition, chocolate contains the amino acid tryptophan, which is also responsible for the mechanism of serotonin production. In the meantime, there is no need to worry about it.”
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Chocolate is good for blood vessels
Flavonoids are on the list of valuable antioxidants in chocolate (here they can also compete with green tea). Flavonoids help to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and at the same time relax the blood vessels, which can ultimately lower blood pressure, and thus the risk of stroke. They also fight inflammation.
Chocolate lowers bad cholesterol
Cocoa butter, which is part of good chocolate, contains stearic acid. It raises the level of "good" cholesterol, which prevents clogged arteries, without increasing the level of bad cholesterol.
Finally it tastes good
Some of us focus too much on the beneficial qualities of food, forgetting that it should also be enjoyable - if only because it is important for our good mood and well-being. Therefore, allow yourself a small amount of foods that bring you pleasure, and eat them without remorse, to your health.>