i realise that not everyone belongs to an easter celebrating faith (i don't, but i respect everyone's different beliefs as long as they don't expect me to believe them or judge me when i don't), but easter is one of those all round holidays that everyone can celebrate. who in this world doesn't like extended weekends or socially acceptable reasons to eat chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner (in moderation, of course! only two, or maybe three, eggs per meal...right??)
it's common knowledge that chocolate en masse (eating it in large quantities) is not good for you. but really, eating anything in large quantities is not good for you! moderation literally is the key!
however, beyond all the nasty health claims about chocolate (high sugar content, high fat content), there is another side to chocolate's personality that will make easter all the sweeter. it is actually good for you...
first off, i need to clarify something: (this may break your heart, but hear me out!) these health benefits don't apply to white and milk chocolate, as white chocolate is not actually real chocolate and milk chocolate has many additives (sugar, milk, nougat, caramel... et cetera) that raise the levels of nasties and negate the healthy benefits. so, if you do want to reap the benefits of chocolate, try to get dark chocolate because it has less nasty additives and a higher cacao percentage, which equals more goodness for you.
now to address the 'fat' issue. the fat in chocolate is composed of three kinds of acids: oleic, stearic and palmitic, and in roughly equal portions. oleic acid is a healthy monounsaturated fat that helps to keep your blood vessels healthy, and stearic acid is a saturated fat that has been shown to have no effect on cholesterol levels. it's only the palmitic acid that is a cholesterol raising problem. but, in moderation, two out of three ain't bad.
so, what about these health benefits?
- chocolate contains flavonoids. these handy little guys are a type of flavonol, which is the compound in plants that fights off toxins and aids in their healing process. how does chocolate contain things from plants? chocolate comes from the seeds harvested from the cacao plant. the flavonoids that you ingest when you eat chocolate act as a natural antioxidant in your body, helping to prevent and heal cell damage.
- these flavanoids also help to reduce blood pressure, and promote blood flow to the brain, which in turn increases brain activity and increases all associated processes (concentration, problem solving, things like that).
- chocolate can also help to lower cholesterol. the polyphenols in cacao inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in your blood vessels (which basically means chocolate stops the build up of gunk on the walls of your arteries) which in turn lowers your chance of heart attack and stroke.
- chocolate can actually help to make you happier! the carbohydrates in chocolate initiate higher levels of serotonin production in your brain, and chocolate also increases the levels of endorphins (the things that make 'other' happy situations make you feel so good). both serotonin and endorphins are the naturally occurring substances responsible for creating a sense of euphoria and happiness in your brain.
- chocolate has very recently been reported to reduce your chance of suffering a stroke. just one serving of chocolate per week will bring your risk level down by 22%.
- chocolate has natural caffeine in it, so it raises your levels of alertness. call it an afternoon pick-me-up!
- chocolate also contains theobromine, a stimulant that helps to reduce coughing by supressing the coughing reflex.
a little note on serving size.
i know i've just been banging on about how brilliant chocolate is, but despite it's incredibly alluring health benefits, it is still a high calorie, high fat food. even in its natural cacao state. so eating it all day every day is going to lead to the positive aspects being far outweighed (literally) by the negative ones. the recommended daily intake of chocolate to get all the wonderful bits is about 100 grams of dark chocolate a day. but keep in mind that if you add 100 grams of dark chocolate to your day, you need to balance it out by removing an equal calorie source, or exercise a little more.
ps!
if you are a non-dairy eater like i am, and you're not the biggest fan of dairy alternative chocolates, some dark chocolate brands (usually chocolate over 70% cocoa content) are dairy free purely because of the high natural cocoa content. but check the ingredients carefully.
x
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