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Chocolate is said to be a sweet drug. And you can actually get addicted to chocolate. We love it for its wonderful taste and smell. But also because it improves mood, adds energy and eliminates fatigue. It turns out that chocolate also has he alth benefits. Check how many calories chocolate has and why you should eat it.

Contents:

  1. Chocolate - properties and nutritional values ​​
  2. Chocolate - how many calories (kcal) does chocolate have?
  3. Chocolate - better bitter or milk?
  4. Chocolate - he alth effects. Why is it worth eating it?
  5. Chocolate - what does white coating mean?
  6. Chocolate - side effects
  7. Chocolate - allergy to chocolate
  8. Chocolate can be addictive
  9. Chocolate as an aphrodisiac?

Chocolatecontains over 600 substances that have a positive effect on he alth. Thanks to them, chocolate has numerouspropertiesandnutritional values ​​ . They protect against many diseases, stimulate the immune system, improve mood, and even - as it turns out - protect against cavities.

Today, science confirms what the Aztec warriors already knew, who refreshed themselves before the battle with a drink made of cocoa powder. For decades people have been admired for the extraordinary properties of chocolate, and later throw it off its pedestal, accusing it of raising cholesterol, spoiling teeth, making it fat and unhe althy in general. Today we can look at her favorably again.

There is a trend in the US for special chocolate treatments to cure fatigue, apathy and nervous exhaustion. Relaxing chocolate baths draw dozens of visitors to Bad Eisenkappel, a he alth resort in southwestern Austria.

The cosmetologists working there claim that cocoa butter, which is the basic ingredient of chocolate, has rejuvenating properties and prevents the formation of wrinkles. Cosmetic treatments with the use of chocolate have also become fashionable in Poland.

Chocolate - properties and nutritional values ​​

Natural chocolate (bitter and dark) is rich in substances valuable for he alth. They are:

  • carbohydrates - the basic source of energy, our brain feeds on them only
  • magnesium - plays a significant role in the release of energy from food, supports cell conductivitynervous

Chocolate is a durable confectionery made from cocoa mass, cocoa butter, sugar and - depending on the type of chocolate - various additives.

  • iron - necessary for the production of red blood cells and the distribution of oxygen in the body
  • niacin - supports the release of energy contained in food
  • theobromine - stimulating kidney function, mild diuretic, it also stimulates the central nervous system, giving effects similar to caffeine
  • phenylethylamine - belongs to the group of endorphins. When endorphins enter the bloodstream, they improve mood, stimulate positive energy and feelings from mild happiness to euphoria, a condition common to athletes
  • flavonoids - inhibit the oxidation process of the so-called bad cholesterol, increase resistance to infections, participate in the regulation of muscle and vascular contractions - make sure that the so-called the platelets did not stick together. These compounds can also be found in apples, almonds, grapes or wine, but nowhere are there as many of them as in cocoa beans

White and milk chocolate Due to the addition of condensed milk, it also contains protein, which is a factor of growth and regeneration of the body, and calcium - important for the efficiency of muscles and the proper functioning of the nervous system, enzymes and blood clotting.

Chocolate - how many calories (kcal) does chocolate have - bar / cube?

A 100-gram bar of chocolate has approximately 530 to 580 kcal (kilocalories). A small cube of chocolate weighs 6 g and has 32-35 kcal.

  • 100 g (10 grams) of plain chocolate has 531 kcal; plain chocolate cube - 32 kcal
  • 100 g of milk chocolate stuffed with nuts has 539 kcal; a cube of milk chocolate with nuts - 32 kcal
  • 100 g of dark (dark) chocolate equals 554 kcal; a cube of dark chocolate - 33 kcal
  • 100 g of white chocolate equals 578 kcal; a cube of white chocolate - 35 kcal
  • cup of hot chocolate approx. 150 kcal

White chocolate is more caloric. It is produced without the addition of cocoa liquor, which gives the chocolate a brown color. Therefore, it requires more cocoa butter - this is what makes this delicacy caloric.

Better dark or milk chocolate? An answer by Dr. Ania [TOWIDEO]

Worth knowing

There may not be any chocolate in 30 years!

All because of the rapidly declining cocoa stocks. In 2022, 70,000 tons more were used in the world than was produced. It is predicted that the deficit could reach a million tonnes in 2022. According to scientists, cocoa plants may become extinct as early as 2050.Today, most of the world's cocoa production comes from Ghana and the Ivory Coast. However, the local plantations are threatened by drought caused by climate change, as well as parasites and inadequate land management.

Chocolate - he alth effects. Why is it worth eating it?

The latest research by American medical centers says that after drinking chocolate, the activity of platelets decreases, they show less tendency to stick together, which means that it prevents blood clots and reduces the risk of a heart attack.

The ingredients contained in it make the walls of blood vessels more elastic, preventing e.g. congestion. The polyphenols contained in cocoa beans improve the functioning of the circulatory system. These compounds relax blood vessels (which facilitates blood flow), neutralizing the action of the so-called. bad cholesterol and prevent blood clots from forming. According to scientists, consuming about a third of a bar of dark chocolate a day protects against heart disease.

Influenced by chocolate by almost 20% the level of antioxidants in the blood increases (this is more than red wine gives) - they slow down the aging process by protecting the body against free radicals that damage cells and promote heart disease and cancer. However, this effect is only observed in people who consume dark chocolate.

Chocolate has many ingredients that increase the level of serotonin in the blood - the hormone responsible for good mood. It adds vigor and improves mood. 100 g of dark chocolate contains as much as 300 mg of magnesium, which has an extremely beneficial effect on the nervous system - it improves intellectual performance and nerve conduction.

Research conducted by a group of scientists from Helsinki has shown that chocolate improves the mood of future mothers, and thus has a positive effect on the development of the fetus. According to them, children of mothers who ate dark chocolate regularly during pregnancy are happier and more active.

Of all the sweets, chocolate is the least dangerous to your teeth. Recent reports show that it contains substances that prevent tooth decay. This was discovered by the Japanese, who are now working on a new toothpaste enriched with cocoa shell extract.

However, like all sweets, chocolate contains carbohydrates that break down and harm your teeth. However, because it stays in the mouth for a short time, because it dissolves quickly and we swallow it immediately, it is less harmful than, for example, caramels or toffee-type candies. For safety, however, it is worth brushing your teeth thoroughly after eating chocolate sweets.

Chocolate can be the basis of the newcough medicine, say specialists from Imperial College London. Theobromine in chocolate has proven effective as an antitussive drug during preliminary studies.

Worth knowing

What does the white coating on the chocolate mean?

A white or gray coating on the chocolate does not mean that it is broken. The bloom is microscopic particles of fat contained in chocolate (and not mold as some believe). It is produced when the sweetness is stored at different temperatures, e.g. when the chocolate melts and is then put in the refrigerator. It is not harmful to he alth, it only spoils the aesthetic effect.

Chocolate - side effects

With all the benefits that chocolate has for our he alth, it also has some disadvantages. It can trigger a migraine, worsen the well-being of women suffering from PMS.

People with a sensitive digestive tract should also carefully observe their reactions after eating chocolate. Maybe she, among others cause heartburn, exacerbate symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux and irritable bowel syndrome.

It should also be remembered that it is conducive to constipation, so people with a less active lifestyle and prone to obstruction should give up chocolates. They can, however, experiment with drinking chocolate, which exacerbates these problems to a lesser extent.

Chocolate should also be removed from their menu by people suffering from kidney and bladder diseases. It contains s alts of oxalic acid, which can be deposited in the body in the form of kidney and urinary stones.

But the biggest disadvantage of chocolate is its calorific value - a bar has an energy value of about 500 kcal, which is the same as a solid meal. Gourmands with a tendency to overweight must count calories accurately.

If you eat a few pralines, eat a light salad with lean meat instead of a large dinner. Chocolate is also on the blacklist of foods that can cause food allergies.

According to an expertdr hab. Bolesław Samoliński, ENT specialist and allergist

Chocolate causes allergies

Chocolate - actually two of its important ingredients: cocoa and protein - is on the list of strong food allergens. It is estimated that people prone to allergies constitute approx. 25% of the population. of the population, and among them five out of a hundred react badly to chocolate. This most often occurs with atopic dermatitis (in children it may initially appear as a small rash on the cheeks, then the skin becomes rough and dry). To find out what we are allergic to, outside of specialized teststhe so-called natural provocation. For breakfast, only the product suspected of causing allergy is served, e.g. chocolate (1-2 cubes for a few-year-old child, about 1/2 a tablet for an older child). If you develop itchy skin, eczema, hay fever or shortness of breath, there is clear evidence that an allergy is present. Sometimes we see these symptoms after just 15 minutes, but it also happens that they will not appear until the next day. In order for such a test to be reliable, it should be performed in the period when we are not taking any desensitizing drugs. Note: if we want to check the child in this way, it is necessary to do it in consultation with an allergist doctor. There is a risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Chocolate can be addictive

What is the secret of the irresistible charm of chocolate, which is sometimes even addictive? We have recently known that cocoa beans contain substances that resemble the chemicals found in marijuana leaves.

They work like signal-carrying molecules in the brain cells and their ingestion leads to addiction. They are the so-called alkaloids (including morphine, caffeine, cocaine, atropine and quinine) affecting nerve cells.

The same chemicals were also found in wine and beer. According to the researchers, the alkaloids themselves will not cause addiction. The aroma of cocoa beans and its unusual taste are also responsible for the fact that we cannot resist the bar of chocolate.

Is it bad that chocolate makes you addicted to it? For people who care about their body or diabetics, this is certainly not the best news. He althy people, however, should not worry about anything - cocoa is not alcohol or drugs that destroy brain tissue.

Worth knowing

Perfect Chocolate

  • has a smooth, velvety, lump-free consistency
  • melts slowly, silky in the mouth
  • its breaking into particles is accompanied by a characteristic crackle
  • is devoid of bitter and sour aftertastes
  • the plate has a nice gloss with no trace of white coating
  • slightly reacts to air temperature changes, so even in heat it should not dissolve.

Chocolate as an aphrodisiac?

Although chocolate does not contain substances that act as aphrodisiacs, it is believed to have such properties. Casanova drank it instead of champagne, claiming it was a true love potion. Perhaps that is why it became one of the ingredients of the famous aphrodisiac called the "Spanish fly".

Apparently, chocolate was one of the main delicacies servedat the balls at the Marquis de Sade. It cannot be explained only by the content of caffeine that stimulates the nervous system.

Currently, scientists tend to say that the taste and smell of chocolate, while inducing a feeling of pleasure, have a very beneficial effect on the nervous system. And when we experience pleasure, the body's immune system also strengthens. However, when we are unhappy and stressed, we become more prone to infections of all kinds.

Important

People use chocolate, they can kill a dog. The lethal dose is 62 g of milk chocolate per kilogram of the animal's body weight. It follows that for a 5-kg pooch it is enough 310 g, or about three bars of chocolate, for a tragedy to happen.

Dark dark chocolate is much more poisonous to the dog. For a dog weighing 25 kg, the lethal dose of dark chocolate is approx. 150 g, which is equal to 1.5 bars of medium-sized chocolate. This is because your dog's digestive tract is particularly sensitive to certain chemicals in chocolate, such as theobromine and caffeine.

"Zdrowie" monthly

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