Unexpected benefits of eating chocolate
Eating too much chocolate is not good because most of these products are very high in fat and sugar, but evidence shows that chocolate is a miracle drug.
Chocolate is a very popular food. Photo: Eva-Katalin/Canva Pro
In fact, chocolate, or more specifically cocoa in its unrefined form, is incredibly healthy. It contains many active ingredients that can have pharmacological effects on the body similar to drugs. There is a growing body of evidence that chocolate is good for both the heart and the mind.
Compounds that have a psychoactive effect on the brain must be able to cross the blood-brain barrier, or the protective shield that prevents toxins such as poisons and bacteria from entering fragile nerve cells.
One of these compounds is theobromine. Theobromine is also present in tea and is what gives it its bitter taste.
Tea and chocolate also contain caffeine, a compound that has some properties similar to theobromine, which is part of the purine group of chemicals. These chemicals, along with other substances, make chocolate addictive. They are able to cross the blood-brain barrier to affect the nervous system. This is why they are known as psychoactive chemicals.
What effect does chocolate have on mood?
A meta-analysis of other studies found a link between emotions and eating chocolate. In most cases, people who ate chocolate reported improved mood, less anxiety, and more energy.
In addition to the brain, several other parts of the body also receive the beneficial effects of cocoa. For centuries, the ancients used chocolate as a medicine to treat many diseases, including anemia, tuberculosis, gout and even low libido.
Scientists are still not sure, but there is evidence that cocoa consumption has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Cocoa can prevent endothelial dysfunction, a process in which arteries harden and build up fatty plaques that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Eating dark chocolate also helps lower blood pressure and also helps prevent blood clots from forming that block blood vessels. Some studies have shown that dark chocolate is helpful in regulating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, which helps protect the heart.
Other studies have found that polyphenol compounds found in chocolate also help improve blood sugar control, making it beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes.
However, it is important to note that chocolate may be good for one person but not for another. There are well documented cases of caffeine and theobromine poisoning in pets. Dogs are particularly susceptible due to their easy-going, non-picky nature.
Dark chocolate can cause symptoms such as agitation, muscle stiffness, and even seizures. In some cases, consuming too much dark chocolate can cause coma, irregular heartbeat, and even death. Chocolate also contains certain compounds that can cause kidney stones.
How should chocolate be consumed?
Science shows that the more cocoa content and the less other ingredients in chocolate, the better.
The harmful effects of chocolate are largely related to fat and sugar. Eating about 20g - 30g of pure dark chocolate with a cocoa content of over 70% every day is better than eating milk chocolate (which contains less cocoa) or white chocolate (which does not contain cocoa)./.
