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avatarBenefits of Eating Chocolate

By Paula Denila on May 12, 2011 | Comments (0)

Chocolate is a mouthwatering treat that is basically made from the seed of a tropical cacao tree. A lot of people crave for this sweet pleasure. However, most people tend to deprive themselves of chocolate thinking that it would just add up to their waistline and weight.

Better think again! Chocolates have a lot of benefits in store for you. Dietitians, researchers and nutritionist can prove it. Here are 3 essential reasons for you to start munching on those scrumptious sweets…

Mental Attentiveness and Antidepressant

Research has shown that chocolate contains theobromine, a component that is rich in caffeine and anandamide. These properties tend to induce mental alertness and aids in increasing our moods.

Depleted serotonin levels can lead to depression and suicide. In addition, a person who has low dopamine quantities tends to feel apathetic and sad. On the contrary, when a person has increased levels of these chemical properties in his brain, one would feel a blast of euphoria and good mood.

Antidepressant properties were confirmed by researchers when they revealed that both serotonin and dopamine levels increased after munching on chocolate bars.

Carbohydrates and theobromine are substances that stimulate the nervous system of our brain. Furthermore, these chemical mediators provide us with extra energy to utilize in our activities. Research has also demonstrated that chomping on chocolates could help in stimulating women with low libidos.

Antioxidants

Free radicals are one of the culprits in developing certain diseases like infections, cancer, heart disease and more. Antioxidants protect our body by binding to harmful free radicals, alleviating them, repairing the injury and preventing further harm from occurring.

Consuming delightful dishes that are rich in antioxidants not only prevent you from getting sick but they also provide you with a healthy body and a youthful vivacity.

The recommended daily intake is a minimum of 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units of antioxidants per day. Raw, unprocessed cocoa is known to be the richest antioxidant containing food in the entire universe. That is the reason why chocolates are considered to be one of the most delicious and nutritious sources of antioxidants.

Cardiovascular Advantages

Chocolates can aid in reducing cardiovascular damage by increasing the production of good cholesterol (HDL). This vital enzyme frees the blood vessels from fats.

Moreover, flavonoids found in cocoa can assist in reducing clots from forming. Clots are the major reasons in acquiring a number of heart diseases. Flavonoids permit stronger blood flow to the heart, thus, increasing the pumping mechanism of the heart. This mechanism aids in maintaining a healthy heart.

Now you don’t have to worry about feeling all guilty about eating your favorite indulgence. Chocolate bars tend to bring more benefits than harm. What are you waiting for? Start munching on those luscious treats!

Categories: chocolate education,chocolate in the news
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avatarHow Much Caffeine is in Chocolate?

By Bryn Kirk on August 15, 2010 | Comments (0)

I can’t talk about caffeine without mentioning another similar chemical called theobromine.  So, I’ll discuss both and even compare some things between them.

There are two chemicals present in chocolate that qualify as stimulants (alkaloid molecules known as methylxanthines), caffeine and theobromine.  Theobromine affects people in a similar way to caffeine but is much weaker.  Although there is significantly more theobromine in chocolate than caffeine, it triggers these “caffeine affects” on a much smaller scale.

Both caffeine and theobromine occur naturally in cocoa beans.  Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and makes us feel less drowsy and more alert.  Theobromine has stimulant properties but does not act upon the central nervous system.  It produces relaxing effects by lowering blood pressure. 

According to the Hershey Chocolate company website, a cup of Hershey’s chocolate milk contains 36-45 milligrams (mg) of theobromine and only 3-4 milligrams (mg) of caffeine.

Caffeine is found in varying quantities in coffee, tea, and chocolate.  Compared to coffee, however, chocolate has a very small amount.  For example, a brewed cup of coffee has between 60–120 mg of caffeine while a cup of hot chocolate has between 4-5 mg.  In fact, a cup of hot chocolate (or even chocolate milk) contains the same amount of caffeine as a cup of DECAFFEINATED coffee (1-5 mg).

Since both caffeine and theobromine are found in the cocoa solids, dark chocolate will contain more of these chemicals than milk chocolate.  The amount of theobromine in a Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate bar is 184 mg and caffeine is 31 mg.  Compare that to the Hershey’s milk chocolate of 74 and 9 respectively.

Categories: chocolate education,chocolate Q&A
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avatarCoffee Candy Bar?

By Bryn Kirk on August 3, 2010 | Comments (0)

Here is something unusual in the chocolate world, especially since it isn’t chocolate.

Sahagun Handmade Chocolates has  introduced this 100% COFFEE bar that looks like a traditional chocolate bar.

They call it KA-POW!

This looks like chocolate but it’s not.

I suspect this is the World Premier of the very first coffee bar.  You get the bar in several different coffee single origin varieties: Guatemalan, Costa Rican, Brazilian, and Zambian.

Only $5 per bar to experience, uh, KA-POW!  I wonder how much caffeine is in this thing? 

I’m guessing students who pull an all-nighter for their semester exams will cherish one of these in their care packages from home.

Categories: chocolate in the news
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