Chocolate: 10 Questions About The Benefits And Properties Of This Food

Chocolate arouses passions, delights, fascinates, it has been called “food of the gods” … But where does the power of chocolate come from?

Do any of its components exert real changes in the body or is it another food myth ? There is data pointing in both directions.

Why do we like to eat chocolate so much?

Chocolate is closely associated with pleasure. Its flavor, to which its sugar content contributes, plus its palatability, its texture and the fact that it melts in the mouth (due to the cocoa butter), favor this satisfying experience.

In addition, the combination of sugar with tryptophan, an amino acid in cocoa, favors the production in the brain of serotonin, a neurotransmitter related to feelings of well-being. Cocoa also contains theobromine and caffeine, two alkaloids with a stimulating effect.

On the other hand, it has been known for more than a decade that anandamide is found in cocoa ( ananda in Sanskrit means happiness), a derivative of arachidonic acid that is manufactured by the brain itself and that binds to the same brain receptors as the active principle of marijuana.

The trees of pleasure should not make us lose sight of the forest of well-being.

Considering its nutritional composition, chocolate is not included among the staple foods. However, cocoa contains substances that arouse great interest, such as flavonoids, and specifically one type of them: epicatechin, the main responsible for the antioxidant and heart – healthy functions of cocoa.

How much chocolate can you eat a day?

The recommendation or not of a food should be made after establishing a balance between benefits and potential harms.

The consumption of chocolate also has its counterparts. And one of those that has the most weight is its energy content, due to the high presence of sugar and the fats of cocoa.

The European Union has admitted that chocolate may contain vegetable fats other than cocoa in an amount not exceeding 5%. This opens the door to palm oil and other fats of little nutritional interest. Legislation requires that the composition be clearly stated on the product label.

But, without a doubt, the 500 calories per 100 grams are there, and it means that a typical serving of 20 grams provides about 100 calories. Chocolate is very energetic but in the recommended amounts the caloric intake is low.

The amount that experts agree as adequate is between 2 and 6 grams a day, or 10-15 grams two or three times a week. 6 g., Sufficient quantity to obtain benefits from its consumption, provide about 30 calories.

Pleasure and health seem to come together in chocolate, as long as a basic principle of the relationship with food is not forgotten: moderation.

Is chocolate good for cardiovascular health?

According to the Spanish Arteriosclerosis Society, there is increasing evidence that dark or bitter chocolate improves the function of the heart and arteries and, ultimately, promotes blood circulation. Good news that does not contradict, however, the advisable moderation in consumption.

What kind of chocolate is better?

The beneficial effects of chocolate seem to be mainly due to the cocoa it contains. So, essentially, the more cocoa and less amount of other ingredients, the better.

From a content of more than 75% cocoa, the chocolate is considered dark or bitter.

What properties does cocoa have?

In addition to the antioxidant effect, from which the whole organism can benefit, there are different studies that indicate that cocoa lowers blood pressure, both the maximum and the minimum.

Another effect attributed to it is to improve insulin sensitivity, which can promote glucose metabolism.

Can chocolate become addicting?

Current data do not indicate that chocolate can create physiological dependence or that it should therefore be considered a drug.

It is true, however, that many people experience an intense desire to consume it for the pleasure it provides, which could be considered a psychological dependence.

Is chocolate with nuts better?

Many commercial recipes and chocolates include almonds or hazelnuts, foods with a high nutritional value and a healthy fat profile.

They can, therefore, be a good option, although it is important that the chocolate in which they bathe maintains a high proportion of cocoa.

Is chocolate bread healthy?

It is a healthy proposition that can be taken once or twice a week.

The snack of many children today is based on high calorie bakery products with an unfavorable fat content. A piece of good bread with 10-15 g of dark chocolate is more interesting.

Does chocolate have an antidepressant effect?

Eating chocolate, if you like it, provides moments of satisfaction, which are very rare or absent when the person is depressed. Its “antidepressant effect” probably doesn’t go any further.

It is important to enjoy good times, but also to diversify the sources of enjoyment.

Is it true that chocolate causes acne?

Some people get pimples when they eat chocolate. This occurs in predisposed and sensitive skin.

Sensitive people should observe how their body reacts and act accordingly. But to say that chocolate causes acne, in a generalized way, does not respond to observed facts.