Who doesn’t love chocolate? Hey, be true to yourself buddy,
you can indulge yourself every once in a while ;-) As normal as it seems, there
are five fabulous facts you need to know about the infamous CHOCOLATE!
According to one certain expert, there are chocolate
apologists, and there are chocolate advocates. How they differ is that chocolate
apologists approach chocolate from a defensive point of view: Deep down, they
consider it a vice, but they use scientific research demonstrating its virtues
to justify their habit. Chocolate advocates like most of us, let’s consider
ourselves as health conscious people, however, consider chocolate a bona fide
health food, and actively seek out ways to include it in our diets for both the
hedonic pleasure it provides as well as for its health benefits.
1. Chocolate is health food for the heart.
2. Chocolate has lots of iron!
The leading nutritional deficiency in the U.S. is iron
deficiency, with toddlers and adolescent/adult females at particularly high
risk. Sure, you can eat more iron-rich foods like beef chili or liver. But why
not eat more chocolate, too? While exact iron content varies by type of
chocolate, a reasonable rule of thumb is to assume about 1 milligram of iron
per ounce of dark chocolate, which is about 6 percent of the recommended daily
value. The USDA's National Nutrient Database reports an even higher amount,
but it seems somewhat
inflated compared to other sources we've consulted. The
darker the chocolate, the more iron it contains. Baking chocolate (5 milligrams
of iron per one-ounce square) and cocoa powder (1 milligram of iron per 4
teaspoons) are even more concentrated sources of iron than ready-to-eat
chocolate.
3. Chocolate is a particularly good vehicle for
carrying probiotics.
Probiotics are health-enhancing bacteria that populate the
human gut. When taken in supplement form, they must remain alive throughout
their journey into our inner digestive sanctum in order to confer a health
benefit. Staying alive requires safe passage through the acid bath of the
stomach and arrival in our large intestine -- a trip as arduous as it sounds.
As it turns out, not all carriers are equally suited for shepherding these
bacteria
safely to the human gut. Chocolate, however, has been shown to be among the best delivery systems for supplemental probiotics. There are a handful of probiotic-fortified chocolates available on the market, though be aware that most contain highly-fermentable "prebiotics" like inulin or fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) that may cause gas and bloating in digestively sensitive folks, particularly at higher doses.
safely to the human gut. Chocolate, however, has been shown to be among the best delivery systems for supplemental probiotics. There are a handful of probiotic-fortified chocolates available on the market, though be aware that most contain highly-fermentable "prebiotics" like inulin or fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) that may cause gas and bloating in digestively sensitive folks, particularly at higher doses.
4. Chocolate is an athlete's secret weapon.
Chocolate has a lot going for it when it comes to sports
nutrition. Intense physical activity results in oxidative stress to the cells,
and this stress is often implicated in muscle fatigue. But research is
inconclusive regarding the benefits versus risks of taking antioxidants in
supplement form to help offset this oxidative damage. Until that question is
settled, an antioxidant-rich diet is likely a safer bet for athletes. As luck
would have it, cocoa is a rich source of food-based antioxidants called flavonoids.
These flavonoids may also help improve blood flow throughout the body -- an
added bonus for athletes. Additionally, lowfat chocolate milk has been shown to
contain the optimal ratio of carbohydrates to protein, making it the recovery
drink of choice for many endurance athletes.
Given what we know about chocolate's effect on blood vessel
function and blood pressure, it's not surprising that higher chocolate intake
-- particularly in the first and third trimesters -- has been associated with a
decreased risk of developing pre-eclampsia, a dangerous type of hypertension
that can occur as the result of pregnancy. Research suggests that five or more
servings per week may be the therapeutic "dose," so to speak, so
don't be shy, ladies!
Chocolate might be good for you but, everything should be
taken in moderation!
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