Thinking about what to present for the New Year? Give chocolate – you will not go wrong. And not only because it is one of the most popular New Year gifts. Most importantly, chocolate is not only very tasty, but also extremely healthy.
For example, the belief that chocolate has a beneficial effect on mental abilities is not a myth at all. British scientists have proven that it energizes better than coffee and activates the brain. The fact is that chocolate contains lecithin, a powerful neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting nerve impulses to the brain. Is the annual report on fire or an urgent project? A few slices of chocolate will give a powerful boost to your mental activity. Did your head hurt from the load? And then chocolate comes to the rescue. The theobromine contained in it relieves spasms of cerebral vessels, improves mood and forces the brain to produce an increased amount of endorphins – hormones of joy. Eat chocolate (an important clarification: bitter, not milk!) – and get real pleasure from mental labor.
The increased consumption of chocolate in the beginning of the season of flu and colds will not be at all superfluous. Italian scientists are convinced that a bar of chocolate reduces the risk of colds and relieves sore throats. It’s all about theobromine, which is contained in the cocoa beans, and this alkaloid, according to some experts, is more effective than cough syrup. It is not for nothing that even in the XNUMXth century, the popes used hot chocolate instead of expectorant.
The Sorbonne Medical Institute went even further: they offer chocolate to strengthen the cardiovascular system. The French attach such importance to flavonoids – plant substances contained in cocoa beans. In addition, chocolate contains catechin, which has a positive effect on the condition of the smallest vessels – capillaries.
In short, do not deny yourself chocolate – this delicacy is very useful in all respects. It can only harm your waist. The fact is that, like almost all sweets, chocolate is quite high in calories: 100 g of dark chocolate contains 540 kcal, milk chocolate – 554 kcal. Therefore, having “sentenced” the whole bar of chocolate, do not forget to do an intensive exercise later or turn the pedals of an exercise bike for half an hour. Well, if you have a surplus of your blood sugar and you are the owner of a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, you better limit yourself to chocolate wraps.