We found 7 particularly healthy reasons to eat chocolate

Chocolate Day (today!) Is one of the happiest days on our health channel, to celebrate it we asked an expert in the field to give us the healthiest reasons to pamper ourselves with a cube or two.

Her answers surprised us

Walla!

health

07/07/2022

Thursday, 07 July 2022, 06:08 Updated: 06:43

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5 facts about chocolate ("Do not miss" system)

When we think of chocolate (and it happens quite a bit), health is not the first word that pops into our heads.

Beyond being the favorite candy in the world, for children and adults alike, we also attribute to it many negative properties like high caloric value that causes obesity, it is also considered as one that causes migraines, acne sores and more.

But that's not the whole story of chocolate, and it also has some particularly good sides.

So true, despite the fine taste, unfortunately milk chocolate and white chocolate do not have particularly good nutritional values, due to the low percentage of cocoa in them and the high percentage of sugar and fat.

But if we look at the dark chocolate, and especially at varieties with a high percentage of cocoa (above 70 percent), we actually find many surprising health benefits.

In honor of International Chocolate Day, which was celebrated today (Thursday), we asked Dr. Rama Khuri, the Chief Nutritionist of the English Hospital in Nazareth, to tell us about all the health benefits of dark chocolate. Here are her answers:

1. Chocolate is good for the heart and blood circulation

One of the biggest benefits of dark chocolate is the role it may play in improving heart health.

Recent studies show that eating a few cubes of dark chocolate about twice a week, can help lower blood pressure in the body as well as lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the future.

Consuming chocolate will help you maintain arterial flexibility while preventing white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels, thus lowering the risk of clogging arteries.

Bitter chocolate also reduces cholesterol.

Studies have shown that thanks to the antioxidants in cocoa, eating dark chocolate reduces the levels of "bad" cholesterol (LDL) in the blood and raises the levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL).

So good.

Liquid chocolate (Photo: Giphy)

2. Chocolate contains ingredients that are important for the health of the body

If you eat good quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa and more), you will also get many nutrients into your body, such as: potassium, iron, calcium, zinc and magnesium.

The vitamins found in cocoa are A, B1, B2, B3, C, E, which are important for the optimal functioning of the human body.

3. Improves mood (and not just because of the taste)

Eating chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins in the brain, which are known to help improve mood and reduce pain.

In addition, tryptophan - an amino acid found in chocolate - helps the brain produce serotonin, also known as the "happy hormone."

The higher the serotonin levels, the better the feeling and therefore, eating chocolate makes us feel happy, reduce stress and pressure and even sleep better.

4. Good chocolate for the skin

One of the most famous myths is that chocolate is harmful to the facial skin and causes acne sores.

Therefore, you may be surprised to hear that thanks to the antioxidants, fatty acids and flavonoids in dark chocolate, your skin will actually look better and more radiant.

The antioxidants in chocolate reduce the roughness of the skin and even protect it from sun damage.

Also, the cocoa in chocolate improves blood circulation in the body and contributes to better and healthier skin.

The more cocoa - the healthier.

Bitter chocolate (Photo: ShutterStock)

5. Chocolate improves the ability to concentrate and memory

Many studies have shown that thanks to the special chemical composition of cocoa that includes a high flavonoid level, theobromine (a relative of caffeine) and a little caffeine, a person who needs dark chocolate will improve blood flow to vital parts of his brain, and therefore improve concentration and memory.

6. Chocolate contributes to the feeling of satiety

Bitter chocolate is rich in dietary fiber which is known for its contribution to the feeling of satiety.

It may also contribute to reducing the craving for sweet, salty foods and various fatty foods as well as contributing to weight loss.

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7. Stimulating chocolate

The right components of theobromine and caffeine in cocoa Eating chocolate stimulates the body and contributes to a faster metabolism.

So if you are pre-workout, eating chocolate will give you a little "boost".

How much dark chocolate should we eat?

Dr. Khuri explains that with all the potential benefits of eating dark chocolate, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, its effects on mood, concentration and memory, it should be remembered that chocolate is still a food rich in calories, sugar, and fat, so it is recommended Controlled consumption of it, as consumption of large amounts can cause obesity and other problems.

So what is the magic secret you ask? Balance. Allow yourself to eat everything but in moderation. Prolonged avoidance also ultimately leads to lack of control. Recommended consumption of chocolate containing at least 70% Cocoa is 2 small cubes or one large cube a day (a dose of about 10 grams).

• health

• Nutrition and diet

• Preventive nutrition

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• chocolate

• cocoa

• diet