http://youtu.be/ghGRMICZugI
Why chocolate makes us feel happy?
The video says that chocolate makes us feel happy due to PEA but …..
What is PEA
Phenylethylamine (PEA), an endogenous neuroamine, increases attention and activity in animals and has been shown to relieve depression in 60% of depressed patients. It has been proposed that PEA deficit may be the cause of a common form of depressive illness. Fourteen patients with major depressive episodes that responded to PEA treatment (10-60 mg orally per day, with 10 mg/day selegiline to prevent rapid PEA destruction) were re-examined 20 to 50 weeks later. The antidepressant response had been maintained in 12 patients. Effective dosage did not change with time. There were no apparent side effects. PEA produces sustained relief of depression in a significant number of patients, including some unresponsive to the standard treatments. PEA improves mood as rapidly as amphetamine but does not produce tolerance.
Source: http://www.chocolate.org/pea.htm
What is dark chocolate?
- Dark chocolate is made up of cocoa solids but not milk solids. Milk chocolate contains cocoa and milk solids whereas white chocolate doesn’t contain cocoa solids but cocoa butter instead.
- Researchers believe that the benefits of dark chocolate are due to the flavonoids found in cocoa solids. Flavanoids are considered to have the ability to lower the risk of heart disease and some cancers.
- Do not choose normal candy bars, but Dark chocolate with at least 70% Cocoa solids. Once, a health shop owner gave me to try 95% cocoa dark chocolate, it was delicious.
- Chocolate contains high levels of potassium and magnesium, as well as vitamins B1, B2, D and E.
Why Chocolate is good for you
Depression
This was stated in the above quote
Blood pressure and insulin efficiency
A study in Italy found that people eating 100 g of dark chocolate daily for 15 days showed a reduction in blood pressure and became more sensitive to insulin than they were before.
Relaxation
It has the ability of relaxing us and makes us feel good, calms our nerves
Why chocolate had a bad name?
New studies are proving that old beliefs against chocolate were wrong:
Acne: researchers are dismissing the connection between the two
Caffeine:
People used to say that chocolate contained too much caffeine. We now know that a small serving of chocolate only contains the caffeine amount equivalent to a cup of decaffeinated coffee.
Migraines:
If you eat chocolate in moderation it will not affect you.
My opinion
Like any other healthy tip, moderation is the key. We cannot just eat chocolate because it is good for us, we still need a balanced diet.
You should invest in a quality dark chocolate and eat it in small amounts every day to see the health benefits.
My favorites are Lindt 85% and Green & Black’s 85% (Lindt does a 99% one but I have not found it in any shop here in Spain.
Further resource:
An interesting article can be found HERE
Liliana
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Oh, I do love some good dark chocolate. I was so happy when I found out that it actually does have real health benefits!
The same as me, researching for this article made me realize I’ve always known chocolate was good for me 😉
I love that something so tasty has great health benefits. I’m a nursing student and when telling patients alternatives to bad foods this is a great thing to recommend and promote nutritional compliance which will lead to better health outcome
Thank you 🙂 I am glad I helped 😉
Thank goodness!! I won’t part with my dark chocolate! good post, Liliana. I appreciate it.