CHOcOlaTE!!

Often looked upon as a bane for those wanting to lose weight but acknowledged for its inimitable taste and often referred to as the most sinful of all foods,

Chocolates have often been a topic of much conjecture. Most people aren't clear about the benefits or harmful effects of eating chocolate. It should be noted that when health benefits of eating Chocolate are discussed, it refers to the actual, pure form of chocolate that includes cocoa and vegetable oils. This doesn’t refer to the sweetened dairy products that are rendered an artificial chocolate flavor. Further, dark chocolate isn't the only pure form of chocolate. It is just looked upon as finer variety of chocolate that packs the maximum health benefits of Chocolates, some of which are explained below:

Chocolates Regulate Blood Pressure

Eating small amounts of dark chocolate on a regular basis is akin to taking a few sips of wine regularly, i.e. from a health’s perspective. Chocolates help to lower the blood pressures, making it a tasty and enjoyable solution for people diagnosed with high blood pressure and those who have heart diseases in their family history. Chocolates are enriched with compounds called flavonoids that neutralize thickening of blood apart from broadening the blood vessels.

Chocolates Grant Better Physical Stamina

One of the least acknowledged benefits of eating chocolates is their ability to induce short spurts in stamina levels. This is because of a lesser-known compound called epictechin that is found in high-grade Chocolates. This compound works towards better cardiovascular health and increases the vital capacity, making it possible to take upon more demanding physical activities.

Chocolates to Lower Cholesterol

Dark chocolate is an established nemesis of bad cholesterol or LDL cholesterol. This harmful type of cholesterol is found as plaque deposited in the arteries that can cause heart troubles.

Chocolates for Better Mental Acuity

Chocolates are a natural stimulant for the body’s serotonin production. With more serotonin, our mood is uplifted, we feel happier and our stress levels gradually dip. With a better state of mind, we can think clearly and be more creative. This is why chocolates flavored with a minimal amount of caffeine is recommended to students taking exams as it helps the mind the work sharply for a few hours. Flavonols are found in high concentration in chocolates and they increase the cerebral circulation of blood, i.e. circulation in and around the brain. This is better for repair and regeneration of brain cells.

Chocolates Improve Our Skin Tone

Contrary to the popular misconception that chocolates cause acne, they are skin-friendly to the core. As explained, they aid better circulation of blood which means that the facial skin is supplied with more nutrients, helping it to fight-off infections, maintain suppleness of the tissues and ward-off wrinkle-causing free radicals. Chocolates help to improve the skin tone further by fighting skin discoloration. This is underlined by the use of chocolate facial wraps and chocolate treatments recommended to people with dull skin or dark spots.

Chocolates For Better Teeth!

As long as you have sweet tooth for chocolates, you don’t need to worry about cavities. Chocolates contain a very unique compound called Theobromine—it works towards cementing the tooth enamel, making it immune to cavity-causing bacteria. This is why Theobromine is now being included in many mouthwashes—it also helps to fight coughing.

Chocolates Have Good Fats & Antioxidants

Fats found within chocolates are good for our health. Chocolates contain Oleic Acid—a monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil. Dark chocolate is a rich source of antioxidants that are required for fighting the oxidative damage caused by free radicals. This is an immunity aid since free radicals induce aging apart from widespread tissue damage and weaken our immune system against fatal conditions like cancer. 

muhammad ariff hakim bin baharudin

18166

chemical engineering