Chemical composition and calorie content of dark chocolate
The calorie content of dark chocolate is 539 kcal per 100 grams.
Natural dark chocolate contains a small amount of components - cocoa beans and cocoa butter. They are saturated with complexes rich in vitamins (A, group B, C, D, E, PP) and minerals (iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus), as well as organic fatty acids, proteins, antioxidants, flavonoids. , catechins, thiamine and essential oils.
Chocolate contains more than 300 elements, including potassium, B vitamins, purines, oxalic acid, theobromine, caffeine, flavonoids, etc.
Chocolate antioxidants improve immunity, metabolism, prevent the development of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular pathology, malignant neoplasms and infectious diseases.
Theobromine contained in chocolate gently stimulates the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Thanks to theobromine and amino acids, endorphins and enkephalins, the body begins to produce the most “happiness hormones”. It also helps prevent coughing and is even more effective than the drug codeine. Chocolate also soothes and moisturizes the throat, which is a must when you have a lingering cough.
Substances from the group of flavonoids, which in addition to red wine and grapes are found in chocolate, are beneficial for the heart and blood vessels. They also reduce the development of fluids that lead to diarrhea.
Chocolate contains magnesium, which helps women overcome menstrual cramps. What can I say, only the aroma of chocolate relieves irritation, calms, restores peace of mind and improves mood and motivation for activity.
Research shows that dark chocolate can boost memory and attention, as well as the ability to solve logical and mathematical problems. An interesting fact is that dark chocolate improves vision during snowstorms or heavy rain.
To finally convince the skeptics, we will tell you about the benefits of chocolate.
Difference between bitter and dark chocolate
In everyday life, dark and bitter chocolate are confused. These are completely different products. So, let's figure out what is the difference between dark chocolate and dark chocolate?
The main difference between dark chocolate and bitter chocolate is the composition. The list of ingredients for dark chocolate is as follows:
- Cacao butter.
- Ground cocoa.
- Powdered sugar.
The mass fraction of grated cocoa is up to seventy percent. Regular dark chocolate also contains 12 percent milk. And also two percent sugar.
And in the question of which chocolate is healthier, dark or dark, the first option wins. Because it contains much more ground cocoa beans, full of useful elements.
Valuable properties of dark chocolate
Thanks to its composition, dark chocolate has a positive effect on the human body. Below are its main beneficial properties:
- Cleansing – neutralizing free radicals, removing harmful substances from the body, improving the absorption of blood sugar, beneficial effects on blood circulation, barrier to blood clots;
- For stress – improving mood, fighting depression and nervousness;
- Obstruction to the spread of inflammatory processes - prevention of acute respiratory viral infections, fight against cough, positive effect on the immune system;
- For diabetes mellitus – improvement of insulin sensitivity, prevention of diabetes;
- Stop bacteria - destroy microorganisms, prevent the formation of plaque and unpleasant odor, strengthen teeth and nails, prevent tartar;
- Heart and blood vessels – cleansing the blood and blood vessels, a barrier to the occurrence of diseases of the cardiovascular system, improving blood circulation;
- For women - a beneficial effect on appearance and mood, slowing down the aging process;
- For men – increased potency, enhances sexual desire, influence on the functioning of the heart and brain;
- Losing weight - lowering blood pressure, removing bad cholesterol, improving blood circulation, satisfying hunger, improving metabolism, vigor and energy.
How to choose quality dark chocolate?
Pay attention to the composition when choosing goodies. A natural product should not contain harmful additives. The color is dark brown, there cannot be any white marks. This indicates a spoiled product. High-quality tiles break with a bang and crumbs, their surface is smooth and shiny.
Note:
- Avoid products with added caramel and molasses, palm and coconut oils, and margarine;
- The highest quality samples do not contain flour, artificial flavors, dyes, or stabilizers;
- Avoid products that have been treated with alkaline solutions.
What are the benefits of dark chocolate?
How much dark chocolate can you eat per day to be beneficial? Scientific experiments have revealed that the safe volume is thirty grams, or a third of a bar per day. This volume is quite justified; the benefits of dark chocolate for the body also imply a good figure. But the product is incredibly high in calories. One bar contains about five hundred kilocalories. If you lean on it, then you can forget about a thin waist.
How much dark chocolate can you eat per day?
The benefits and harms of dark chocolate depend on the amount of consumption of the product. To prevent the properties of the bitter delicacy from harming your health and figure, you should eat no more than 1/4 of a regular bar per day, and no more than 2 whole bars per week.
Useful material
The benefits of dark chocolate for the human body are determined by the mass fraction of ground cocoa beans. Cocoa liquor contains more than three hundred elements. What are the benefits of dark chocolate for the body? Different substances give different beneficial properties of dark chocolate:
- The benefits of dark chocolate for the heart are due to the presence of magnesium and potassium in it. They strengthen the heart and stabilize its functioning.
The benefits and harms of dark chocolate for the figure are still being discussed. There is no consensus. But there are facts. The product quickly and for a long time satisfies the feeling of hunger, so it can become simply irreplaceable when losing weight. Moreover, the benefits for the figure are also due to the amount of sugar in dark chocolate. Is there sugar in dark chocolate? Yes, but in very small quantities.
- Dark chocolate can be both good and bad for your health. It all depends on two factors. The amount of chocolate eaten and its quality. Finding natural, high-quality chocolate is very difficult. The risk of buying a fake is great. It uses palm oil instead of cocoa butter. Not to mention dangerous additives. But there is no need to worry about how much dark chocolate you can eat per day. If there is no intolerance to the components.
The harm and health benefits of dark chocolate are determined by identifying the percentage of ground cocoa beans in it:
- Chocolate 97 7 percent cocoa is useful for those who watch their figure. It contains little sugar, but the percentage of nutrients is much higher.
- Chocolate 99 percent cocoa can be both beneficial and harmful. The active substances are in very high concentration. They may cause negative effects. Among them: rapid heartbeat, exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases, rashes.
- Chocolate 75 cocoa benefits and harms, which is a compromise. There is more granulated sugar here, but the product is still healthy.
Dark chocolate has health benefits and harms, which have both common mechanisms of action on humans, regardless of gender, and a unique effect on each gender. Let's take a closer look.
Precautions
Chocolate is a highly allergenic product, therefore, when choosing chocolate cosmetic procedures, you should be careful. Be sure to make sure that your skin does not have a negative reaction to chocolate, even if you have not noticed anything like this before. Also, you should not use chocolate cosmetics too often, since this product contains a large amount of nutritional components that can provoke an oversaturation of certain substances in the skin, causing irritation, redness and pigmentation on its surface.
When using vegetable oils, including essential oils, herbal extracts and other additives in combination with chocolate, also be sure to make sure that they are suitable for you. When combined with chocolate, they can provoke a more severe allergic reaction.
The range of cosmetic procedures using chocolate is very wide. In the salons you will be offered massages, wraps, baths, and masks, the main component of which will be a delicacy that is dangerous for your figure. Know: in these interpretations it will exclusively benefit your body.
Please note: milk chocolate, beloved by most girls, is never used for cosmetic procedures. For a positive effect, products are used that are saturated with both cocoa bean extracts and oils of this plant. The former are the main component and should make up at least 80-90% of the total mass. The second refers to auxiliary components that enhance the beneficial properties of the product.
In addition to beans and butter, cosmetic chocolate contains a high content of caffeine, beneficial microelements and antioxidants. Each component has a unique beneficial effect on the skin.
Cocoa beans have the main healing effect on the skin. They contain a huge amount of minerals, iron, calcium, proteins and phosphorus salts. These elements have a positive effect on blood vessels and improve blood circulation. Due to the latter, beans are recognized as one of the most effective remedies for cellulite.
Cocoa butter, due to fatty acids and vitamin F, cleanses, tightens and moisturizes the skin. Also, these components help in the fight for youth, tone and add radiance.
Thanks to a large number of antioxidants, cocoa butter removes toxins and neutralizes the effects of stress factors
Everything is covered in chocolate: we eat, we get smarter, we get healthier
- More details
Caffeine, on average, makes up 40% of cosmetic dark chocolate. It is thanks to it that fat cells in the body disintegrate and the “orange peel” disappears. Caffeine is also an excellent remedy for getting rid of and preventing the appearance of edema.
Thus, the elements that make up chocolate make the product a true helper for women. Cosmetic procedures will provide you with a true comprehensive therapy “for body and soul.” Chocolate will help tighten the skin, enrich it with minerals, vitamins and moisture, get rid of a few extra pounds and the hated cellulite. A pleasant smell will lift your spirits and activate the body’s production of endorphins (the so-called “hormones of joy”). You will completely relax, forget about stress and gain a sense of peace.
Dark chocolate benefits for women
You need to start understanding the benefits of dark chocolate for women with its positive effect on the skin.
Dark chocolate against wrinkles
A large-scale study conducted in Germany in 2006. It showed that in women who regularly consume dark chocolate. The skin resists ultraviolet rays better. They are the cause of premature wrinkles.
Also in the group of girls who consumed dark chocolate during the experiment. The skin appeared smoother and more hydrated. Based on this information, the benefits of dark chocolate for women have been more than proven.
Dark chocolate during pregnancy
As for pregnant women, dark chocolate can be equally beneficial and harmful to them. All of the above beneficial properties will have a beneficial effect on the female body, but there are several contraindications that should not be neglected when carrying a child.
Dark chocolate is included in the list of allergenic products, and if the expectant mother has a tendency to allergic reactions, then chocolate is strictly forbidden to her, because the baby can take on the disease.
Caffeine, which is contained in dark chocolate, can also lead to disturbances in the nervous system of mother and baby if consumed excessively. Chocolate can cause constipation, especially in the last months of pregnancy. And the high calorie content of the delicacy can add weight to the pregnant woman, which is also undesirable.
Sleep regulator and chronic fatigue remedy
What else is dark chocolate good for women? Because thanks to him it is possible to establish a sleep pattern. Also, with its constant use, chronic fatigue goes away.
All this is the result of the fact that the product affects the brain neurotransmitter responsible for sleep and wakefulness, serotonin. It is also the hormone of happiness. So eating dark chocolate is a contribution to your good mood.
What else is dark chocolate good for women?
The product has other qualities valuable for women’s health:
- slows down aging due to antioxidant properties;
- strengthens the body's defenses;
- helps with cough;
- is an aphrodisiac, increasing sexual desire;
- reduces the risk of developing caries and tartar deposits;
- suppresses inflammatory processes;
- has antitumor activity.
Scientists have found that the skin of a person who regularly eats bitter (dark) chocolate is less susceptible to the negative effects of ultraviolet rays. This is due to an increase in its moisture level, for which we should give credit to antioxidants, in particular vitamin E, and flavonoids.
The use of dark chocolate in cosmetology
The benefits of chocolate for the female body are manifested not only when consumed internally. The delicacy is used in homemade skin care recipes; masks and wraps based on the product have a quick positive effect.
Face masks
The benefits of a chocolate face mask are that the product accelerates blood circulation, makes the skin more elastic, smoothes wrinkles and eliminates inflammation. For example, the properties of such a mask will be of great benefit:
- 25 g of bitter product is melted over steam;
- mix with a small spoon of starch;
- add a small spoon of coffee essential oil;
- Apply over clean facial skin for 25 minutes.
The beneficial properties of the mask will be especially evident in the winter season - the product will protect the skin from irritation and redness.
Body wraps
The benefits and contraindications of chocolate wraps deserve attention. When applied to the body, dark chocolate not only increases skin elasticity. The beneficial properties of the procedure help get rid of cellulite, as they accelerate subcutaneous metabolism.
To carry out a useful wrap, a sufficient amount of the bitter delicacy needs to be melted and steamed, then cooled slightly so that the mixture is warm and not hot, and applied to problem areas. The body is wrapped in cling film and placed under a blanket for 40 minutes to create a “bath” effect. Then the mixture will need to be washed off and the body treated with a nourishing cream.
In total, to achieve maximum benefit, it is recommended to carry out 15 procedures at intervals of one day.
Attention! The properties of chocolate wraps can cause harm in cases of oncology, heart disease, allergies to the product and wounds on the skin - in all these cases it is better to refuse the procedure.
Homemade chocolate cosmetics
Don't you think it's necessary to spend money on finished products? You can create your own chocolate homemade cosmetics. Few people can doubt its naturalness. Just prepare it immediately before use and use it immediately and without residue. Homemade cosmetics, due to the lack of preservatives in them, cannot be stored for long and are a perishable product.
Chocolate bath recipe
Cocoa powder in its pure form - without sugar and other additives - in an amount of 100-200 grams is diluted with a liter of hot, but not boiling water. Cools down to human body temperature and pours into a filled bath. Fifteen to twenty minutes - and you are refreshed and rejuvenated again.
How to organize your own chocolate wrap?
An effective remedy for excess fat and “orange peel” is chocolate wrap. Cocoa powder, as in the first recipe, is diluted with hot water. Only the proportions are slightly different to make the consistency more viscous - 100-200 g per 0.5 liter. The resulting composition is applied to problem areas and wrapped in cling film for half an hour. At the end of the procedure, the chocolate mass is washed off in the shower.
Options for using pure cocoa butter
By diluting cocoa butter with other equally beneficial oils (jojoba or wheat germ oil), you get an excellent product for massage, for example, anti-cellulite.
In small quantities, cocoa butter can be added to your usual day cream, enhancing its effectiveness. For dry and brittle hair, a mask containing two tablespoons of cocoa butter and one tablespoon of cognac will come in handy.
Whatever chocolate cosmetics you choose - ready-made or homemade, whatever goals you pursue, in addition to the expected effect, you are always guaranteed a great mood.
Its positive effect on the body, its excellent antidepressant properties. Thanks to its main component – cocoa butter – chocolate has become an indispensable product in the human diet.
But more recently chocolate has gained popularity
not only as a tasty and healthy product, but also
as an excellent cosmetic product
.
Now chocolate is widely used in cosmetology
; shampoos and hair masks, masks and scrubs for the face and body are made from it, and chocolate massages will not only enrich the skin with useful substances, but will also lift your spirits.
Why did chocolate become so widely used in cosmetology?
I have already introduced you to its effect on the body, so now we will take a more specific look at the effect of chocolate on the skin.
As we have already said, chocolate contains a substance that is simply unique in all respects - cocoa butter, thanks to which chocolate has earned such popularity. Cocoa butter is rich in antioxidants
, which neutralize free radicals, remove toxins from the body, thereby
tightening and toning the skin.
Cocoa butter contains fatty acids - stearic, palmitic, oleic and others, which not only help restore cell membranes, but also promote the rapid healing of small wounds and skin defects
.
contains caffeine and tannin.
stimulate blood circulation, normalize lymph outflow, thereby helping to reduce skin swelling, and provide a slight lifting effect.
In addition, caffeine activates the process of fat breakdown, helping to get rid of cellulite
.
Substances such as theobromine and theophylline contained in chocolate help improve biochemical processes in the skin
, and accelerate metabolic processes in the body, which naturally
improves the appearance of the skin
.
Chocolate also contains vitamins A, B, D and F
, which help
strengthen hair and nails
, and also
help in the fight against cellulite
.
It is also worth mentioning that chocolate is rich in such microelements
, such as magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium, calcium and others, which improve overall well-being and enrich the body and skin with the nutrition it needs.
How is chocolate used in cosmetology?
Face masks are widely used
, prepared on the basis of chocolate powder, to which fruits, algae, clay, or other substances beneficial to the skin are added.
After the first procedure, the skin looks tightened, elastic, and its fatigue decreases.
The skin is moisturized and saturated with useful substances.
Such masks help reduce acne and age spots, and smooth out facial wrinkles well.
Body masks
based on chocolate, they help burn subcutaneous fat, and thereby
reduce cellulite, increase cell regeneration and accelerate metabolism.
By the way, such masks can be made
Not only in a beauty salon, but also
at home
there is also a great opportunity to pamper your skin.
You just need to remember that in cosmetology they use special chocolate without additives
, in which
the cocoa content is at least 50%
.
At home, you can use a bar of dark chocolate.
It should be melted in a water bath, you can add salt, a little olive oil and cool to body temperature.
Then apply to cleansed skin
and
rinse after 15 minutes.
Lately in beauty salons
Chocolate wrap
is becoming increasingly popular , in which the entire body is covered with a chocolate mask and a thin film in order to raise the temperature and prevent the chocolate from drying out quickly.
Thanks to this procedure, in 30 minutes you will have beautiful skin without swelling, toned and elastic, and with a golden hue, as
if after a light solarium.
The range of cosmetic procedures using chocolate is very wide. In the salons you will be offered massages, wraps, baths, and masks, the main component of which will be a delicacy that is dangerous for your figure. Know: in these interpretations it will exclusively benefit your body.
Please note: milk chocolate, beloved by most girls, is never used for cosmetic procedures. For a positive effect, products are used that are saturated with both cocoa bean extracts and oils of this plant. The former are the main component and should make up at least 80-90% of the total mass. The second refers to auxiliary components that enhance the beneficial properties of the product.
In addition to beans and butter, cosmetic chocolate contains a high content of caffeine, beneficial microelements and antioxidants. Each component has a unique beneficial effect on the skin.
Cocoa beans have the main healing effect on the skin. They contain a huge amount of minerals, iron, calcium, proteins and phosphorus salts. These elements have a positive effect on blood vessels and improve blood circulation. Due to the latter, beans are recognized as one of the most effective remedies for cellulite.
Cocoa butter, due to fatty acids and vitamin F, cleanses, tightens and moisturizes the skin. Also, these components help in the fight for youth, tone and add radiance.
Thanks to a large number of antioxidants, cocoa butter removes toxins and neutralizes the effects of stress factors
Everything is covered in chocolate: we eat, we get smarter, we get healthier
- More details
Caffeine, on average, makes up 40% of cosmetic dark chocolate. It is thanks to it that fat cells in the body disintegrate and the “orange peel” disappears. Caffeine is also an excellent remedy for getting rid of and preventing the appearance of edema.
Thus, the elements that make up chocolate make the product a true helper for women. Cosmetic procedures will provide you with a true comprehensive therapy “for body and soul.” Chocolate will help tighten the skin, enrich it with minerals, vitamins and moisture, get rid of a few extra pounds and the hated cellulite. A pleasant smell will lift your spirits and activate the body’s production of endorphins (the so-called “hormones of joy”). You will completely relax, forget about stress and gain a sense of peace.
What are the benefits of dark chocolate for men?
The benefits of dark chocolate for men are also obvious. Especially if you believe the latest research. The benefit of dark chocolate for men is that it has a positive effect on potency. Chocolate stimulates the production of serotonin, which will reduce tension.
The benefits and harms of dark chocolate for men are determined by the amount of the product eaten. To obtain a relaxing effect, it would be advisable to use one tile. More is dangerous.
Dark chocolate also contains a sufficient amount of zinc. It has a beneficial effect on the entire male reproductive system.
Beneficial for the male body
Dark chocolate is an aphrodisiac for men. It improves not only mood, but also male potency. The beneficial properties of chocolate make men cheerful, strong and self-confident, and also improve the functioning of the heart and blood vessels of the brain. However, men should also be wary of high-calorie foods and not overdo it with the amount they eat so as not to increase their weight.
How to make chocolate wrap at home?
Many of the proposed chocolate wrapping procedures can be done independently at home.
Method No. 1
Ingredients:
- 300 g cocoa powder
- 250 g milk
Cooking method:
In order to make a chocolate wrap, you need to take 300 g of cocoa powder and 250 g of milk. Then mix cocoa with warm milk, spread the resulting mixture on the body and cover with film. We put a blanket on top to create a greenhouse effect. Apply the resulting mixture only to clean skin. Keep the wrap on for 40-60 minutes. Be sure to wash off the chocolate mask with warm water.
Method No. 2
Ingredients:
- dark chocolate
- olive oil
Cooking method:
We prepare the cosmetic mass from a chocolate bar with a cocoa content of at least 50%. To do this, you need to melt the chocolate in a water bath, add 2 teaspoons. per 100g. chocolate, olive oil. Stir and cool to room temperature, or a temperature comfortable for the skin. Apply the chocolate mixture only to steamed and cleansed skin. Leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes, then wash off with warm water.
How to choose high-quality natural dark chocolate
At the moment, on store shelves you can find a huge amount of low-quality dark chocolate, since everyone wants to make money out of thin air, it’s easier to write all sorts of tall tales on the packaging and raise huge amounts of money for these words, and let the consumer be content with what he purchased, and now I I’ll tell you how you can determine the quality of a product!
The composition of real dark chocolate is very simple and consists of:
- Cacao butter
- Cocoa liquor
- Powdered sugar
- Milk fat
These are the most basic ingredients of natural dark chocolate, and you should carefully observe this on the packaging you want to purchase, and this bar will stand out in price accordingly, since a natural product costs money, and a fake will cost much less, of course, if you trust the composition of this bar .
The calorie content of dark chocolate is 539 kilocalories, this figure may change slightly, since everything should be in place in a natural product.
But if you see ingredients like:
- Cocoa powder
- Palm oil
- Coconut oil
- Flour
- Leavening agents
- Dyes
- Stabilizers
- No letters E
It’s better to put this dark chocolate back, as it will not be natural, and at best you will simply give your money to this store, but at worst you can cause problems to your health and end up in a hospital bed!
Real dark chocolate should have a shelf life of a maximum of 1 year, but ideally 6 - 8 months, and in no way should it melt in your hands, but only in your mouth, but also a natural product will never burn, since by nature it will not work , but only a low-quality result will light up, which is better not to eat!
Chocolate in cosmetology
Chocolate can not only delight us with its taste and aroma, but also make our skin irresistibly beautiful. Chocolate wraps and chocolate-based masks are very popular in cosmetology today. Chocolate procedures have no contraindications and can be done even by pregnant women. Let's talk about the use of chocolate in cosmetology.
Today, more and more attention has been paid to “chocolate cosmetology”. How does chocolate affect the skin?
It turns out that cocoa butter has remarkable cosmetic properties. It moisturizes, softens the skin, rejuvenates, gives it elasticity and smoothness. And the caffeine it contains speeds up metabolism. Chocolate is good for the body, article: Chocolate. Cocoa beans and chocolate tree. Chocolate and its benefits, it can give strength, invigorate, increase resistance to stress, strengthen blood vessels, normalize blood pressure, enrich the body with vitamins B and A, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium.
For cosmetic purposes, it is best to use dark chocolate.
Treatments based on chocolate or cocoa powder help the skin become moisturized and acquire an even bronze color. After chocolate treatments, the skin is cleansed, it becomes softer and more velvety. Even acne and pigmentation spots disappear.
During the entire chocolate wrapping session, and after it, you will be surrounded by a feeling of happiness and a state of incredible joy. Your life's adversities will take on a completely different look and will seem not so difficult and insurmountable. Everything will appear rosy.
Tips for use
Dark chocolate should not be consumed too much or too often - it is recommended to eat no more than 2-3 squares (1 strip) per day. You need to eat the product before 12 noon - from 6 to 12 o'clock the body's metabolism is at its fastest, so the chocolate bar will not be deposited as fat on the waist and hips.
Many people experience chocolate addiction because they do not know how to consume the product correctly. Dark chocolate should be taken slowly, breaking off a small piece and chewing slowly to fully experience the taste and aroma.
Today, chocolate wraps and masks - they improve skin tone, make it elastic and toned, and smooth out wrinkles. Chocolate wraps also help in the fight against cellulite and sagging skin after sudden weight loss or childbirth.
Pregnant women can eat chocolates, but be very careful. During this period, there is a high risk of heartburn, allergies and other unpleasant symptoms. But nursing mothers should avoid eating dark chocolate until the baby is 3 months old. By this time, the baby will have developed an immune system and resistance to allergens. You need to introduce chocolate into your diet gradually, 1 small piece per day. If mother and baby do not have an allergic reaction, then you can continue to use the product.
Dark chocolate has a lot of valuable properties, so treating yourself to it is not only tasty, but also healthy. But still, you shouldn’t get carried away with it often so that it doesn’t cause harm.
When breastfeeding
Dark chocolate reduces hair loss in a young mother during the postpartum period, improves her mood, and reduces the likelihood of depression. The product also has a beneficial effect on the quality of breast milk. A young mother should eat chocolate in small quantities, as the product can cause colic in the baby.
During pregnancy
Dark chocolate contains a number of vitamins and minerals and promotes the proper development of the fetus in the early stages of pregnancy. Subject to the norms of consumption and in the absence of contraindications, dark chocolate does not pose a threat to the health of the expectant mother and child. When a pregnant woman overeats a product, her blood pressure increases, which negatively affects the baby’s well-being.
For children
Benefits for children and teenagers:
- stimulates brain function, helps to absorb information faster;
- fights fatigue during mental stress;
- minimizes the risk of developing caries;
- reduces sore throat and other symptoms of colds;
- strengthens the immune system.
You should not give children too much chocolate : the product in large quantities can cause hyperactivity, insomnia and allergies in a child.
For PMS and menopause
The property discussed above will come in handy during premenstrual syndrome, when a woman becomes very sensitive, overly emotional, touchy, and irritable. Two or three small pieces of chocolate will calm your nerves and reduce anxiety and impulsiveness. And thanks to its relaxing effect on blood vessels, it will help reduce pain in the lower abdomen.
It is also recommended to pay attention to bitter varieties for women during the premenopausal and menopausal periods, when changes in hormonal levels do not have the best effect on the state of the nervous system.
For the heart and blood vessels
Dark chocolate increases the elasticity of vascular walls and helps reduce blood cholesterol levels. This directly affects the reduction of the risk of stroke, heart attack and atherosclerosis. Repeated studies have shown that a product with a high cocoa content helps the heart muscle function properly.
Reference: 1 g of 70-80% dark chocolate contains 30 mg of flavonoids, which is several times more than green tea. These substances lower blood pressure and increase blood circulation.
By the way, the hypotonic effect of the product is based on the fact that flavanols stimulate the production of nitric oxide in the inner lining of blood vessels, which, in turn, relaxes the vascular walls and improves blood flow.
Beneficial features
Chocolate is extremely healthy due to the content of cocoa beans, which, in fact, are a real storehouse of useful microelements. “Cocoa beans, which are found in large quantities in bitter dark chocolate, contain magnesium, which not only helps get rid of depression, but also strengthens memory and immunity. Treatment of depression with chocolate is a scientifically recognized fact, since when consuming dark chocolate, endorphins are released - the hormones of happiness.
Dark chocolate contains alkaloids that stimulate the body, increase its performance and help cope with bad mood. In addition, chocolate has antibacterial properties and prevents the formation of plaque. Chocolate contains microelements necessary for the body such as fluorine, calcium, phosphorus, as well as stearic acid, which helps cleanse blood vessels. Phenols, which are present in chocolate, prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. The darker the chocolate (with a high content of cocoa beans), the more flavonoids it contains - antioxidants that help fight the aging of the body and help prevent cardiovascular diseases,” says a psychotherapist of the highest category of clinical diagnostic (branch of GlavUpDK at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs ) Boris Bogomyslov .
Naturally, they try to use all this benefit to the maximum for the treatment of various health problems and disorders.