HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHOCOLATE

Chocolate intake may have possible beneficial or detrimental effects. Chocolate doesn’t have only bad side; it has a lot of good sides that we may not know.

There are many types of chocolate such as milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate, etc but the best type of chocolate that is benefit is dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate contains less sugar than other types of chocolate. It may support cardiovascular health. Other effects under preliminary research include reduced risks of cancer, coughing and heart disease. Chocolates may lower blood pressure; improve vascular function and energy metabolism.

Some potential effects of chocolate in the body include:

1. Support of Cardiovascular Health: Limited research indicates that cocoa or dark chocolate may produce certain effects on human health. Cocoa has antioxidant activity, an effect not proved in the body.  Some studies have also observed a modest reduction in blood pressure.

Flavonoid which is present in dark chocolate help relaxes the blood pressure and help balance the hormone to be stable. Other than that, dark chocolate help decrease a high blood pressure, and also help get rid and decrease bad cholesterol. It would also stimulate the endorphin production.

Consuming milk chocolate or white chocolate, or drinking fat-containing milk with dark chocolate, appears to largely negate the health benefit.

2. Slows Down Aging: Dark chocolate has flavonoids (usually found in vegetables or fruits with dark color) that act like antioxidant to our body. Antioxidant helps slow down our body from aging.

3. Aphrodisiac: Romantic lore commonly identifies chocolate as an aphrodisiac. The reputed aphrodisiac qualities of chocolate are most often associated with the simple sensual pleasure of its consumption. A gift of chocolate is a familiar courtship ritual. Research looking at the psycho activity of chocolate reveals that methylxanthine, an active biological substance found in chocolate, competes with adenosine, a presynaptic inhibitor modulator, and blocks its receptor. This induced blockage can lead to arousal. The participants' blood pressure decreased, and they showed improvements in insulin sensitivity, meaning they were better able to metabolize glucose.

4. Stimulant: Chocolate may be a mild stimulant to humans mainly due to the presence of theobromine. It is much more potent for horses, and its use in horse racing is prohibited.

Chocolate contains a variety of substances, some of which may have an effect on body chemistry. These include: Anandamide, arginine, caffeine, dopamine, methylated xanthines, oxalic acid, phenethylamine (an endogenous alkaloid sometimes described as a 'love chemical; it is quickly metabolized by monoamine oxidase-B and does not reach the brain in significant amounts), theobromine (the primary alkaloid in cocoa solids and chocolate and partly responsible for chocolate's mood-elevating effect).

5. Mexican healers use chocolate to treat bronchitis and insect bites.

6. The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.

7. While the sugar in chocolate may give energy, too much of it can cause tooth decay and gum disease if eating without regular and proper teeth brushing. Sugar plays a harmful role in tooth decay by providing the bacteria in your mouth with energy. The bacteria begin to multiply faster, and plaque begins to grow in size and thickness on your teeth. Bacteria can also use sugar as a type of glue to cling to your teeth, making it difficult to get rid of with just a toothbrush.

8. Chocolate contains caffeine and too much caffeine may lead to hypertension, insomnia, anxiety, dehydration and inability to concentrate.