chocolate is good for you
By savypat
@savypat (20216)
United States
February 20, 2009 1:26pm CST
Just in case you had any doubts here's an article I found. Enjoy
Is Chocolate Good For You?
By Kristen Kingston
We all know chocolate’s good, but is it good for you? Here are some facts about chocolate that might surprise you – and make you run out for a quick chocolate fix!
* Chocolate is good for your blood pressure: Cocoa helps the body process nitric oxide, which is critical for healthy blood flow and blood pressure.
* Chocolate could help prevent blood clots: Flavenols in cocoa prevent fat-like substances from oxidizing and clogging the arteries, making platelets less likely to stick together and cause clots.
* Chocolate can help improve energy: Chocolate contains caffeine which can give the brain a little lift.
* Chocolate can help with stress: Like turkey, chocolate contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that lessens anxiety by producing the neurotransmitter serotonin.
* Chocolate can help relax you: The ingredient anandamide promotes relaxation, and last but certainly not least, chocolate is a natural analgesic, and high-fat, chocolate foods trigger the brain's production of natural opiates.
2 people like this
25 responses
@playapal (894)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Well no wonder that I love it so much! People have always told me I'm crazy, because when I can't sleep I drink hot chocolate. Everyone says, well that has so much caffeine you'll never go to sleep, now I know that tryptophan and anandamide are what is helping me sleep! Thanks so much for the info, time to go grab some Nestles Chips!
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
20 Feb 09
I love chocolate too, but I'm thinking of the large amount of sugar added. This sugar cannot be healthy! I actually prefer bitter chocolate, and sometimes buy semi-sweet chocolate chips, that are used for cooking. I like to sprinkle these on Vanilla Ice Cream. Another trick is buy unsalted peanuts, melt the semi-sweet chocolate in a bowl in the microwave, and stir in the peanuts, Spread the mix on a cookie sheet and allow it to harden Mmmmmm its good!
1 person likes this
@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
23 Feb 09
I knew about the qualities chocolate has, but unfortunately they can't compensate for the other bad effects it has... :(
It's good in a certain limit and mostly dark chocolate's better which is not tasty at all. It's also a good source for weight gain unfortunately...
I love chocolate, it's true that tryptophan is (amongst others) its secret and that's why we feel happy after eating it. Even if it has the other effects I still love it and I'll continue eating it. At least it's not entirely bad for the body, right?
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Pat, even if it didn't have all those health benefits, it surely does a lot for the psyche. It's just so good! If anything's worth the calories for a dieter, it's chocolate!
1 person likes this
@dianni (195)
• Indonesia
23 Feb 09
ya... that way women if have problem eat a lot of food specially junk food in home also in out door if they see some food like ice cream and chocolate that will be in big numbers and that make the sadness and trouble that we feel gone... but to much can make our fat also that can bring our mood happy and born be new mood... you are so right...
@willofGod (113)
• Nigeria
20 Feb 09
that is interesting. Although i don't like chocolate much (maybe because we grow cocoa in my country). But i can tell you i am surprise it contains that much. Though some can still be questioned. Like the case of caffeine- it is addictive and it is also carcinogenic. Thanks for your good research.
@doooookie (99)
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
i love chocolate and i think its good for if you don't eat chocolate too much it can result to high blood
1 person likes this
@killhawaii (112)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Chocolate is very good for you. But for the chocolate to effect you the most fully it has to be dark chocolate. Dark chocolate though tastes nasty it is the healthiest one. Milk chocolate will not do any good though cause well even though there is milk in it it does not have the same content of real chocolate which is dark chocolate.
@juliotostado (168)
• Chile
21 Feb 09
WIth moderation of course chocolate is good. In fact, if do you have to do a test or an exam, if you eat a chocolate in the previous minutes you´ll achieve a better level of concentration.
1 person likes this
@sanctified (151)
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
so I have heard, chocolate contains "stuff" that's actually good for the body, unfortunately, chocolate will never be good for me - I allergic to it. My body reacts to chocolate in a very bad way. Too bad I really wanna have one.
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Hey pat! So now I have a better reason for eating chocolate?
Like I needed one! I knew that it was good for some reason!
So now I can say that it is helping me relax and helping to
lower my blood pressure! That's great! No wonder people are so
much happier when they eat chocolate! Now we know why!
1 person likes this
@TnWoman (1895)
• United States
20 Feb 09
hello savypat
well let me run right out to the store and buy that Snicker's candy bar. yum. now i am wanting some chocolate. i shared my box of Valentine's Day candy with one of my girlfriend's that didn't get any chocolate for Valentine's Day, so needless to say, that chocolate has all been eaten. lol thanks so much for posting the article about chocolate being good for you. i enjoyed reading about all of the benefits that the chocolate has so that the next time that i do eat some chocolate, i won't feel as guilty as eating it. lol right? i might have to make some kind of a chocolate dessert for dinner tonight to go along with the fish fillets and the tater tots.
take care and have a beautiful afternoon.
@saichandtalluri (1486)
• India
21 Feb 09
But chocolates makes us fat, people suffering from diabetes can not eat chocolates, i know there are sugar free chocolates available for diabetes people but their price is high. Chocolate contain rich proteins and important milk vitamins but consuming more chocolate may cause health problems.
@reatex (8)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Yeah, I think this is true because whenever I feel stressed out, I eat chocolate. When I feel tired, I eat chocolate. When I feel sleepy, I eat chocolate. I love chocolates a lot. It makes me feel good in most parts.
