With milk, bitter, white or crunchy. Regardless of the type, O chocolate it is, without a doubt, one of the most loved and consumed foods in the world. Produced from cocoa, this food has high energy content and is the great villain of many diets.
Despite being caloric and having a lot of saturated fat and sugars, it has been proven that chocolate can bring health benefits. However, just like any other food, there should be moderation in its consumption.
Chocolate has polyphenols, such as flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties and therefore benefit the cardiovascular system. Among these benefits, the reduction of LDL oxidation (bad cholesterol), inhibition of platelet aggregation and decreased inflammatory response, which reduces the risk of formation of fatty plaque in blood vessels. In addition, flavonoids cause reduced insulin resistance, increased blood flow, and reduced blood pressure.
Studies also reveal that chocolate is important for the bowel cancer prevention. Thanks to its antioxidant action, it protects cells from possible degeneration. Chocolate also protects nerve cells, soothes damage to a
stroke and is related to the decrease in the risk of pre eclampsia.In addition to these benefits, we can mention the improves the mood of those who consume chocolate. This food has in its composition the amino acid tryptophan, responsible for stimulating the activation of serotonin and dopamine, which are related, in addition to improved mood, with reduced depression and anxiety. Chocolate also stimulates the release of endorphins in the brain, which gives you a feeling of pleasure and increases your mood.
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Still, chocolate can also bring some harm. In some people, ingestion of it can cause migraines and some gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea. Its frequent consumption can also lead to overweight and diabetes, mainly due to the amount of fat and sugar.
It is important to highlight that there are differences between the types of chocolate in relation to the substances that compose them. As such, some are more beneficial than others. Dark chocolate, for example, has a greater amount of polyphenols when compared to other types, therefore, it brings more benefits. White chocolate, which is not made from cocoa seeds, but from cocoa butter, is quite harmful, as it is rich in fat and sugar.
Thus, it is recommended that they be more ingested those chocolates that have a greater amount of cocoa, such as bitter and semisweet. It is noteworthy that consumption should be done in moderation, as excessive intake can cause damage, being recommended the consumption of only 30g per day.
Curiosity:Many people choose to ingest “diet” chocolate as a way to “keep the diet”. However, this chocolate has a large amount of calories, differing only in that it does not have sugars. As such, it is only recommended for diabetics. For those who wish to consume less calories, light chocolate is ideal.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
