It provides us with a lot of energy, good mood, as well as calories and … remorse. Chocolate has its advantages and disadvantages, although it would certainly be difficult to discourage die-hard fans of chocolate delicacies from it. The first European who got to know its taste was Christopher Columbus. At the time, he didn’t like it at all: the drink made from ground cocoa beans was bitter and astringent. Only after 17 years did someone at the Spanish court think it was worth adding some sugar and vanilla to it. This is how the chocolate most similar to the modern one was created.
It is a rich collection of minerals, vitamins and other biochemical components that are valuable for our body. Among its advantages, it is necessary to mention the fact that it is a great source of energy, it also has calming and relaxing properties. It accelerates the reduction of swelling, cleanses the skin of toxins, and even has an anti-cellulite and slimming effect, thanks to the caffeine content in the composition. In addition, it contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, PP and E.
Chocolate pluses
The level of endorphins and serotonin increases thanks to the phenylethylamine contained in chocolate. It is thanks to this substance that we feel relaxed after eating it, because it has properties that counteract depression and diseases of the nervous system. Chocolate releases endorphins, i.e. happiness hormones that enhance the feeling of pleasure and improve the mood.
Dark chocolate contains a lot of magnesium, which counteracts stress, facilitates the absorption of calcium, and also accelerates blood circulation in the body. This sweet snack also has an effect on delaying aging, neutralizing free radicals and increasing the body’s immunity. It will also be good in preventing atherosclerosis, because it makes the walls of the arteries more flexible and dilates the vessels, facilitating blood flow. Dark chocolate strengthens our circulatory system, protects against the harmful effects of UV rays, and also reduces the risk of heart attack and cancer.
Chocolate Cons
Its biggest disadvantage is, of course, the content of white sugar, whose task is to balance the cocoa bitterness. A bar of ordinary chocolate is more than 500 kcal, and sucrose is additionally responsible for a number of civilization diseases as well as caries and tooth cavities. The excessive consumption of chocolate is led by obesity, and it is not an ally of diabetics, because it has a high glycemic index and may be responsible for dysregulation of the pancreas.
Of course, the tablet is not the same – the bitter and dessert one has many more antioxidants and minerals than the milk one. Therefore, the question: to eat or not to eat? You can answer: yes, but preferably without added sugar. Currently, there are chocolates on the market in which sugar has been replaced with completely calorie-free stevia, which is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. In addition, let’s choose bitter instead of milk, eating one to two cubes a day.