Chocolate

Chocolate is a typically sweet, usually brown food preparation of Theobroma cacao seeds roasted and ground. It is made in the form of a liquid’ paste’ or in a block or used as a flavoring ingredient in other foods. Chocolate has become one of the most popular food types and flavors in the world and a vast number of foodstuffs involving chocolate have been created particularly desserts including cakes’ pudding’ mousse chocolate brownies and chocolate chip cookies. Many candies are filled with or coated with sweetened chocolate and bars of solid chocolate and candy bars coated in chocolate are eaten as snacks. Gifts of chocolate molded into different shapes eggs’ hearts have become traditional on certain Western holidays such as Easter and Valentine's Day. Chocolate is also used in cold and hot beverages such as chocolate milk and hot chocolate and in some alcoholic drinks such as creme de cacao. Dark chocolate is produced by adding fat and sugar to the cacao mixture. Nutrients are destroyed in the process of making chocolate available for the general market. The chocolate you buy is within the healthy range. Check the label chocolate with a 70% or higher cocoa content is packed full of nutrients and antioxidants. Often called bittersweet it has minimal sugar. The best way to get all the nutrients from chocolate is simply to use unsweetened cocoa nibs. The bitter crunchy seed like snack isn't the best tasting treat but its nutritional profile makes it worthwhile. The health effects of chocolate are the possible positive and negative effects on health of eating chocolate. Overall evidence is insufficient to determine the relationship between chocolate consumption and acne. One preliminary study concluded that in males who are prone to acne eating chocolate increases the severity of acne. Various studies point not to chocolate but to the high Glycemic nature of certain foods like sugar corn syrup and other simple carbohydrates as potential causes of acne along with other possible dietary factors. The effect of chocolate on body weight is unclear. A concern is that excessive consumption of chocolate may promote high calorie intake and weight gain a risk factor for many diseases including cardiovascular disease. As a consequence consuming large quantities of dark chocolate in an attempt to protect against cardiovascular disease is likely to add excessive calories and induce weight gain. If you eat a chocolate bunny a day there is an obvious risk of becoming a major chubbo. A little chocolate has health benefits. The heart benefit of dark chocolate also could be caused by flavonoids or antioxidants that can smooth heart function. Chocolate has two potent anti aging ingredients caffeine and antioxidants. By increasing blood flow to your scalp it helps your hair grow and can help fight against hair loss. Cocoa is rich in magnesium a mineral that helps to combat hair loss. Cocoa powder is a nourishing and beneficial treat for your hair strands. It can add vibrancy shine and volume and promote healthy hair growth. Cocoa also contains beneficial nutrients for your hair such as protein riboflavin vitamin A and thiamine. The added sugar in chocolate has no nutritional value which can cause weight gain and heart disease according to the American Heart Association. If you’re going to indulge in chocolate a professor at Tufts University recommends that you cut out other treats on that day or that you walk an additional 40 minutes to counteract the additional calories you’re getting.