- Catechin
- Epicatechin
- Procyanidins
It is worth noting that dark chocolate contains much higher amounts of flavonoids than milk chocolate, and milk chocolate may slow the absorption of flavonoids in the intestine.
Contains some minerals:
Chocolate contains minerals that help enhance health benefits in it, including :
- Potassium: This helps reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Iron, glucose analysis, infant growth, and brain development.
- Zinc: which contributes to maintaining the immune system, and the growth and repair of tissues.
- Iron: necessary for the production of red blood cells.
- Magnesium: which plays an important role in the functions of Muscles and nerves, and maintaining the stability of the heartbeat.
- Phosphorous.
Chocolate benefits for heart health :
Eating chocolate in moderate amounts can benefit the heart. This is because they contain the previously mentioned antioxidants. These compounds may help the cells of the body to resist damage caused by free radicals resulting from the body's vital processes; Such as breathing, and environmental pollutants such as cigarette smoke, free radicals may cause the formation of plaque on the walls of the arteries, caused by the oxidation of harmful cholesterol known as LDL. Although the dark type of chocolate contains a moderate amount of saturated fat, which can negatively affect the levels of fats in the blood, the benefits of antioxidant compounds for the heart outweigh the effect of saturated fats. Nevertheless, it is recommended to eat chocolate in moderation, and within a healthy diet based on eating plant sources, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight; For greater health benefits. To learn more about the potential benefits of chocolate for the heart, read the article Chocolate Benefits for the Heart.
Is chocolate good for the skin?
Dark chocolate is a rich source of minerals; such as copper, iron, and magnesium, in addition to manganese, which supports the production and formation of collagen, a protein that contributes to maintaining the health and youth of the skin, as well as other minerals; Calcium in the regeneration and repair of skin cells. However, there are conflicting results in studies, and there is still a need for more research studying the effect of chocolate on the skin, so it is recommended to follow the means that protect and preserve the skin while eating chocolate within a healthy diet. There is also insufficient evidence linking eating a specific food such as chocolate directly to the appearance of acne, the sugar in chocolate may be the cause of new pimples or deeper pimples, and not cocoa itself, so it is recommended to choose dark chocolate, and pay attention to the number of sugars. For more information about the effect of chocolate on the skin, you can read the article on the benefits of chocolate for the skin. Despite the many benefits of chocolate, it should be noted that it should be eaten in moderation. Because it is full of calories, sugar, and fat, including saturated fat. To learn about the benefits of dark chocolate, you can read the article Benefits of dark chocolate.
What kind of chocolate do experts recommend to eat?
Not all types of chocolate contain high levels of flavanols, which are a type of flavonoids, and these compounds naturally give cocoa a strong, sour taste. This taste decreases as more of these compounds are lost, during the cocoa processing and chocolate production stages. Such as fermentation, roasting, etc. Most of the chocolate that is marketed often undergoes a lot of processing, and many chocolate manufacturers try to preserve the flavanols during their manufacture, but at the present time, it is preferable to eat dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, especially those Which contains added fats and sugars. It should be noted that milk chocolate does not provide the same benefits as dark chocolate, as a study published in the journal Nature in 2003, and included the participation of 12 healthy people, indicated that the absorption of polyphenol compounds was reduced when eating Dark chocolate with milk, or milk chocolate, which reduced the total antioxidant capacity in the blood, compared to its ability when eating dark chocolate alone, the proportion of white chocolate; It does not contain flavanols. When buying dark chocolate, it is advised to pay attention to several things, including Choosing types that contain at least 60% cocoa, and their percentage in dark chocolate products ranges from 60-80% or more. The health benefits of chocolate increase with the increase in the proportion of cocoa in it. Choose types that do not contain hidden ingredients, such as added sugar, oils, and artificial flavors, so it is recommended to read the ingredients of the product to make sure of that.
An overview of chocolate and its types:
Chocolate is a famous food product around the world. It is made from the seeds of the tropical cocoa tree. Its types vary according to their raw cocoa content. It is made from cocoa beans mixed with cocoa butter and sugar.
Among the types of chocolate:
- Dark chocolate: 70-85% cocoa.
- Milk chocolate: usually contains 10% cocoa liquor, compared to at least 35% in dark chocolate. Milk chocolate is made from ground, roasted, hulled, and fermented cocoa beans, which contain non-fat cocoa solids and cocoa butter.
- White chocolate: Contains only cocoa butter mixed with sugar and other ingredients, so many people don't consider it chocolate.
Improve athletic performance:
Eating dark chocolate may help athletes go more distances while consuming less oxygen. Results published in the International Society of Sports Nutrition suggest that eating less dark chocolate may increase oxygen availability during fitness training. This may be because this type of chocolate contains a type of flavonol known as Epicatechins. Which enhances the release of nitric oxide in the body, and it is worth noting that it was found in an experiment conducted on 9 male cyclists who exercised for a period, followed by 4 hours of rest, and completed an endurance experiment for 3 separate days, as the players were given directly after The first exercise and two hours of rest was a chocolate milk drink, an alternative drink to replace fluids, and an alternative carbohydrate drink, and after completing the experiment and comparing between the groups, the results were that drinking chocolate milk helps to recover and restore energy effectively.
Lowering Insulin Levels:
In a study of participants who ate chocolate with an average of 24.8 grams per day, it was found that their insulin resistance decreased, and levels of liver enzymes improved compared to participants who did not eat chocolate, and the effect was stronger the higher the consumption of chocolate, and the participants who ate chocolate were more physically active, and younger and more educated compared to those who did not eat chocolate, according to the authors.
Cough relief:
Where chocolate can reduce coughing, according to doctors in the British National Health Service; A study was conducted on nearly 300 people in 13 hospitals with persistent coughs who took a chemical called theobromine twice daily for 14 days. Which is extracted from cocoa, and the results showed that 60% of patients experienced a decrease in cough after taking the cocoa-based treatment. Protect the skin from the sun’s rays: Flavanols can protect the skin from sun damage, improve blood flow to the skin, and increase skin density. skin and moisturize it.
