Chocolate Can Prevent Heart Disease?
A recent study revealed that individuals who consume chocolate on a regular basis may not only be satisfying their sweet tooth craving, but also lowering their chance of having certain diseases namely cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke by 37%, 31% and 29%, respectively.
A link has been found between eating chocolate and prevention of heart disease, but the study is too premature to jump into conclusions. The said experiment included intake of dark and milk chocolate and included chocolate candies and drinks.
Previous studies have already associated chocolate with the reduction of heart risk since cocoa is known to have positive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on the heart. But in this new study, it appears that people who regularly eat chocolate pretty much reduce their risk by one-third. It is not accurate though how much health benefits chocolate has to offer.
According to World Health Organization, heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death across the world. Metabolic syndrome, together with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, affect approximately one fifth of the adult population around the world.
Nevertheless, you can prevent yourself from having these deadly conditions by means of lifestyle modification such as diet and exercise. Also, chocolate can contribute to avoiding these diseases. We just need to know more details about its precise benefits to the health.
Most chocolates that you can find in the market are loaded with sugar and fat, which can only cause you to gain weight, and can also lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain heart diseases. Further knowledge should be studies need to know ways of reducing these harmful elements in chocolates yet still maintain its delectable taste.
Yet again, don’t go devouring chocolate because of this! For the nth time, moderation is key.
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Categories: chocolate articles Tags: chocolate lovers, chocolate studies, included, need, stroke, world
More Reasons To Love Chocolate – As If You Need A Reason
Chocolate comes with a wide array of health benefits, we basically state that like all the time. Those benefits just seem to multiply with time.
Below are some reasons that have been making a buzz lately as to why you should never feel guilty when enjoying your chocolate.
For one, chocolate is said to be beneficial for the heart. Consuming chocolate on a daily basis could cut down one’s risk of suffering from a heart attack and even stroke. Chocolate can also help you in your weight-loss goal. We always take chocolate for something that would make us gain unwanted pounds. That shouldn’t be the case now. Studies have shown that people who eat chocolate regularly are more likely to stay fit than those who don’t. Turns out, a person who eats chocolate five times per week or more had a lower BMI (Body Mass Index) than those who eat chocolate less frequently.
Chocolate is helpful for appetite control. Chocolate contains filling fiber, a natural appetite suppressant. Go ahead, give in to that sweet-tooth craving. You may eat fewer calories than if you cut it cold turkey.
We have tons of reasons to bask in the goodness of chocolate, but it’s a must to be smart about our consumption. Here are some tips to heed when buying high-quality chocolate:
The darker the chocolate, the more nutritional benefits you can reap. Pure chocolate could be a tad too bitter, which is other ingredients are tossed into the mixture. But the chocolate part of that bar is what contains the good stuff: fiber, magnesium and antioxidants.
Make your own hot cocoa. To take it to the next level regarding the nutritional profile of your hot cocoa, buy unsweetened powdered chocolate, and add your own sweetener. Additionally, keep it as dark as you can actually handle.
Be creative when it comes to cocoa. If you’re a fan of dark chocolate bars or drinking cocoa regularly, there are other options. Go ahead and experience sprinkling powdered cocoa in your oatmeal or cold cereal, for starters.
Categories: chocolate articles Tags: Cacao, chocolate lovers, cocoa, cold, love chocolate, nutritional, powdered
Awesome Chocolate Is Awesome
An array of things have already been said about chocolate with regard to its beneficial effects to the human mind and body. Little do we know that deeper investigation and research are being done so as to lengthen the existing long list of the good things about it.
The American Heart Association did a study, reported in their journal named Hypertension. The outcome of which indicated that cocoa, which is the main ingredient of chocolate, has antioxidants that aids in improving mild cognitive impairment in the elderly.
The said research involved a group of aged participants, who in a span of two months, were supplied with drinks that have different cocoa flavonol levels. Such process produced results displaying that the ones who received the highest of these doses exhibited progress in a few cognitive tasks, which includes memory function.
Other flavonol rich products, aside from chocolate, include red wine, apples, tea as well as berries.
Moreover, new studies look back at past studies to compare. They have found out that cocoa products high in flavonols may contain a small, but very significant role, in lowering high blood pressure.
More to these, it also aids in alleviating risks for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and aging problems.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that too much of everything is bad enough. Yes, chocolate can do you good but it can backfire when you go overboard. Take slow steps, and always eat in moderation.
Furthermore, dark chocolates have more cocoa in them, hence an increased sense of beneficial effects. White chocolate does not contain cocoa at all, sad to say. All chocolates are high in calories and sugar, it’s not a secret anymore. You would not want to overgrow your favorite clothes or be swimming in a bed of ants.
Many people tend to be hard on themselves by depriving themselves of chocolate. That’s not ideal. If you want to enjoy it, throw away the guilty thoughts and savor it the healthy way. Better!
Categories: chocolate articles Tags: aids, chocolate facts, chocolate lovers, chocolate studies, chocolate tasting, cocoa, research, things
Chocolate For Everybody
Try asking people around about what their favorite food is to match their sweet tooth and certainly most if not all of them will answer chocolate. Do not just ask the little kids or the young adults because even middle aged people and the senior citizens still fancy this ultimate chocolate delight. If you base it solely to that, you can easily conclude that chocolate is one the most loved food there is in the whole wide world. Because of that, it has been made available for everyone to enjoy.
Based on practices, chocolates have been a part of the rewards and punishments as a disciplinary method among children. If they scored high in tests or if they made a good deed, they will be rewarded with a box of these sweets. But if they did the opposite, they will be grounded and deprived from these delicious chocolates for a period of time.
Onto the next age level which is the teens or the youth. Chocolate is every girl’s best friend. If they are sad and troubled, they would drown themselves in chocolate and feel better after downing a handful of it. Chocolates have also evolved into becoming a symbol of love and affection. It is a favorite gift given to a person dear to you. The sweetness of every bite size reflects the feelings of the sender towards the receiver of the gift.
Moreover, when people reach middle age they still have that special attachment towards chocolates. Unfortunately, in this age group entails a lot of problems and complications when it comes to health. Although the cocoa is nothing but alluring, the sugar content is what’s holding them back most specifically to the ones diagnosed with Diabetes. But the good news is, since chocolate is for everybody, manufacturers found ways to lessen the sugar content or even make it sugar free but still keeping intact the sweetness that it brings.
For the older ones, the availability of hot chocolate has been their favorite. Alongside that is the introduction of dark chocolate syrup. The strength of the taste and aroma brings them back to their younger years when they used to eat as much as they want with no holds barred.
With the increasing demand of chocolates in the market, more and more manufactures have innovated their production and made a wider range of flavors. Because of that, chocolate has been made very cheap and affordable making it a staple favorite for all the people in the world, young or old.
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Categories: chocolate articles Tags: chocolate lovers, Chocolates, learn about chocolate
From the Bean to the Bar
There is much more to making fine chocolate than picking a cacao bean and cooking it. Going from tree to chocolate bar takes a special touch to achieve the perfection you’re looking for.
Bean selection is the first step in making chocolate. If the bean chosen isn’t of high quality, the end result will be a less than desirable chocolate. Therefore, many fine chocolate makers take time to personally select the best beans.
Once a chocolatier selects the beans they are roasted. The roasting process has a great impact on the finished flavor. After roasting, the beans are put into a grinding process. The pulverized mass is called chocolate liquor and is turned into the actual chocolate.
To create the final chocolate bar from chocolate liquor, sugar and other ingredients are added to the liquor. Then another grinding process called refining is begun. Refining crushes everything and helps ensure that that the chocolate bar doesn’t have a grainy feeling in your mouth. Following the refining process, the mix is cooked and stirred in a process called conching. This step can take place over a few hours or days. It is at this point that chocolate begins to take on the flavor that most chocoholics love.
After conching, cocoa butter can be added to change the flow. Then the chocolate can be put into its final form, liquid or solid. If the final product is in solid form it must be tempered. Then it is packaged and shipped. If it took the form of a chocolate bar, now it’s finally ready for you to purchase and eat. Yum.
For a fun and tasty chocolate education visit Chocolate University Online.
