Today there is a reason to celebrate… today is Chocolate Day! July 7th has been coined as World #ChocolateDay due to food historian belief that the modern chocolate bars were introduced in Europe on July 7th, 1847. Do you know what that means? You need to celebrate with the rest of the world by grabbing your favorite chocolate bar!
If this is exciting to you, you’ll love this post. Did you know that chocolate has health benefits? That’s right, you can not only enjoy a delicious treat but also benefit your body. There is a slight caveat, of course. The darker the chocolate, the healthier it is for your body. Milk chocolate is full of sugar and milk, which lessens the health benefits. So unless you eat in moderation, stick to chocolate bars with at least 70-80% cocoa.
Good for the Brain.
Chocolate consumption is linked to lower stroke rates. It also contains phenylethylamine (PEA), which releases the endorphins that make you feel good, similar to that feeling of falling in love. Do you have any friends or family that refer to themselves as “chocaholics”? That’s because of the serotonin that is released in the brain when eating chocolate, which also make you feel good. These chemicals don’t make you feel like you’re falling in love though. Instead, they contribute to activating the pleasure sensors in the brain. It’s no wonder women crave chocolate during pre-menstrual and menstrual cycles.
Good for the Heart.
In addition to lower stroke rates, chocolate consumption is also linked to lowering high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. It has also been shown to reduce levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and raise levels of “good” cholesterol. This in turn, may potentially lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Good for the Skin.
Cocoa provides phytochemicals, which when acting as antixoidants, help improve health. “Chocolate is a good antioxidant, it has a good effect on inflammation. We think most of the beneficial effects are because of this,” said Dr. Owais Khawaja, a cardiology fellow in Ohio. Remember earlier when I said the darker the chocolate, the healthier it is? Well, the darker the chocolate, the more phytochemicals there are.
Good for the Body.
According to the University of Texas at Austin, chocolate contains some important vitamins and minerals. Chocolate is high in Magnesium, which helps with protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function and blood glucose control.
It is also fibrous, which helps control appetite and promote digestive health. The amount of fiber is depending upon the amount of cocoa, so make sure you’re sticking to the darker stuff to get the most fiber out of your treat.
Are you munching on your favorite chocolate bar yet? Make sure it has 70-80% cocoa to gain these health benefits. If you have questions regarding this post or need help controlling chocolate intake, call our office at 801-724-9840.