| Good News (and Health) for Chocolate Lovers |
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| Written by Regan Coomer | ||||||||||
| Monday, 03 September 2007 08:04 | ||||||||||
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Good News (and Health) for Chocolate Lovers
Some women think of chocolate as the oh-so-delectable enemy. One second
of luscious chocolatey goodness can expand even the most careful
dieters waistline. However, chocolate isnt all bad. In fact,
chocolate can positively affect your health in many ways. Read on to
learn how to reap chocolates healthy side without losing your figure.
Chocolate contains antioxidants that prevent heart disease, according
to a 1996 study conducted by Andrew Waterhouse of the University of
California, Davis. These potent antioxidants, called phenols, are the
same health-benefiting type found in red wine. These cocoa phenols
prevent bad cholesterol from causing plaque buildup in the arteries.
Waterhouse also found that the darker the chocolate, the more phenols
it contains, so the purest and darkest chocolates are the most likely
to provide health benefits.
Cocoa butter, one of chocolates main ingredients, is high in saturated
fat. However, one-third of chocolates fat is stearic acid. However,
stearic acid does not raise LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) like
other saturated fats because it is converted in the live to oleic acid,
a heart-healthy, monosaturated fat. Another third of fat found in
chocolate is already the unsaturated fat oleic acid, the same type of
fat in olive oil, which raises good cholesterol (HDL). Although chocolate does contain caffeine, it only contains about 10 mg of the stimulant, as opposed to the 137 milligrams of caffeine in a 5-ounce cup of regular automatic drip coffee or the 30 to 46 milligrams in a 12-ounce can of cola.
Mood Pleaser
Good fats and antioxidants aside, chocolate also contains
phenylethylamine, a chemical related to amphetamines, raising blood
pressure and blood glucose levels. The result? It makes the consumer
feel more alert and gives a sense of well being and contentment. This
chemical makes the brain release b-endorphin, an opioid peptide, which
elevates the mood, or mimics the brain chemistry of a person in love,
one reason why chocolate is said to be an aphrodisiac.
Before you rush to the grocery to buy the cartload of chocolate youve
dreamt of your whole life, remember that while eating chocolate does
benefit your health, it can, like all indulgences, become too much of a
good thing. (Especially when your bridesmaid dress doesnt fit a month
before the wedding.) Sugar and milk are also ingredients in chocolate,
and even though most of the fat in chocolate is good fat, the fat is
still there.
More articles by this author
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| Last Updated on Tuesday, 04 September 2007 03:31 | ||||||||||
