Are Chocolates Good for your Health?

3194468033There are numerous claims about chocolates. Some say that it’s good for your health while others claim that it’s not the very best choice if you want to stay healthy and fit. Others would say that chocolates are aphrodisiac as its ingredients have substances that can release certain hormones from the body to make you feel light, relieved, and happy. In other words, chocolates set your mood. But are these claims true? What do nutritionists and health experts say about these dark temptations?

Basically, there are two types of chocolates, one is dark and the other one is white or milk chocolate. In this issue, we will tackle more about dark chocolates since this is the most common type of chocolate in the market. I bet at this point, you are now drooling over the thought of Kisses, Godiva, Ferrero, Belgium’s Trader Joes, Pure Dark from Slab, Lindt, and so many others. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. See, even the thought of chocolates alone can send you to a calm mode, right?

First of all, dark chocolates are enriched with flavonoids. These are compounds found in cocoa, which is the main ingredient of every dark chocolate in the market. Although white chocolates also contain flavonoids, its percentage is not as high as that found in dark choices due to the processes that it went through before becoming white. Flavonoids are renowned for its antioxidant benefits to the body. These are essential in keeping the body at bay from free radicals brought about by smoking and alcohol drinking. These free radicals are also found in a dirty environment, and can cause premature aging of skin and body pains. However, regular consumption of dark chocolates can help lower your chances of acquiring large amounts of free radicals in the body as it helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels of the body. Studies also show that it lessens the chances of blood clotting and the tendency of acquiring cardiovascular issues. Although it does not necessarily show that it can really lower the risk of acquiring heart diseases, flavonoids may certainly pave the way to healthier blood flow in the body.

Dark chocolates have the capability to promote a state of attentiveness and well-being because of its caffeine, phenyethylamine, endorphins, and tyramine contents. The same alertness that you experience when drinking coffee regularly is also the same alertness that you experience from consuming chocolates at small contents. Meanwhile, endorphins help alleviate pain and promote a sense of happiness, which makes dark chocolates an aphrodisiac.

 

Fun Facts about the Irresistible Chocolate

les-mis-poster-main-630x350A normal American eats about 10 to 12 pounds of chocolates annually, which implies that a vast array of men and women in America have strong cravings for this so-called irresistible sweet treat. In the culture of Americans, chocolates are often put in comparison and are defined as romance, love, and celebration.

Chocolate is made out of cocoa beans. On the other hand, it does not contain high amount of caffeine. Cocoa beans are taken from pods by means of the process of fermentation. The beans are consequently dried after one week. They are initially graded and then followed by the process of roasting. Roasting process is dependent on the size and type of the beans. Cocoa nibs undergo the alkalization process, which actually helps them obtain color and flavor. The nibs are later on milled, made into liquid form, and converted into the liquor form of the cocoa. After that the cocoa mass is eventually permitted to cool down in order for it to solidify. The final product is used to prepare specialized and gourmet chocolates.

In order for you to have more ideas about chocolates, here are a number of types of chocolates that would help you understand the taste and figure of this sweet treat:

Dark chocolates are also known as the bittersweet chocolate. It is made by means of putting in sugar and cocoa butter to the chocolate liquor. Various government agencies such Food and Drug Authority recommend only 35 per cent of liquor in the entire content of the chocolate.

Sweet chocolate contains at least 15 percent liquor sourced out for cocoa itself. As the name states, this kind of chocolate definitely contain a larger quantity of sweetener compared to the dark chocolate.

Milk chocolate is the most renowned and commercially sold kind of chocolate in the United States and even in the whole world. It only contains 10 per cent of chocolate liquor. This entirety of the chocolate is also composed od 12 percent solid milk, cocoa butter, sweeteners, and other additional flavors.