Chocolate provides antioxidants that help prevent chronic illness, in addition to the unique slimming and longevity benefits, but it is important to eat the ideal amount of the “good” type.
Studies show that chocolate can help not only sweeten life, but also prolong it. Chocolate is not a recent invention. Its health benefits date back to ancient times when the Aztecs made chocolate drinks from cocoa beans.
The antioxidant content of chocolate may explain some of its health-promoting potential. Phenol contained in cacao helps to suppress free radicals and boost immunity. From potentially longevity to achieving a slimmer body, chocolate can be both a smart and tasty natural intervention.
Chocolate as an anti-obesity treatment
A March 2021 study investigated how adding 10 grams of cocoa-rich chocolate daily to a postmenopausal woman’s diet affects body composition.
In a 6-month randomized trial, subjects were divided into two. An intervention group that took 10 grams (g) of 99% cocoa chocolate daily as part of a habitual diet and a control group that did not take cocoa. The amount of chocolate received by the first group contained 65.4 milligrams (mg) of polyphenols.
When measuring factors related to body composition, cocoa was associated with a favorable reduction in the intervention group with respect to body fat mass and percentage (analyzed by trunk, arms, legs), accompanied by a slight decrease in body fat index. rice field.
“Adding 10 g of cocoa-rich chocolate daily to a postmenopausal woman’s habitual diet can reduce body fat mass and percentage without changing weight,” the researchers wrote. I am.
In another study, cocoa derivatives were analyzed in animal models for 5 weeks. Researchers have found that these treatments result in 39% body weight, 27% systolic blood pressure, 55% triglycerides, 24% total cholesterol, 37% low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and significant triglyceride / high density. I found that it decreased to. The lipoprotein (HDL) ratio is 54%. The team stated that the cocoa derivative improved the metabolic function of the subject without causing secondary effects.
Chocolate as a food that is good for heart health
Flavonols, a plant-derived polyphenol compound found in cacao, is associated with improved endothelial function and blood pressure in humans.
A March 2021 study investigated the effects of stress-induced changes in human vascular function with cocoa flavonol intake.
This study recruited 30 healthy men 1.5 hours prior to an 8-minute psychological stress task to assess forearm blood flow, blood pressure, and cardiovascular activity, both at rest and during stress. did.
The results showed that cocoa increased forearm blood flow at rest and during stress, with similar effects on stress-induced cardiovascular and blood pressure responses in both situations. According to the authors, the key to the results is flavanols, which effectively counteract stress-induced endothelial dysfunction and increased peripheral blood flow.
But how much chocolate should lead to these benefits? A meta-analysis of 23 studies with 405,304 participants shows that a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease can occur at weekly intakes of less than 100 g (about 3.5 ounces).
It is important to note that high doses negate the benefits and can have adverse effects associated with high sugar intake.
Chocolate as a longevity promoter
What is the relationship between eating chocolate and mortality? A survey published in July 2021 surveyed 91,891 participants aged 55-74 years to investigate this association in the US population.
Researchers assessed subjects’ chocolate consumption through a food intake frequency questionnaire. In a 13.5 year average follow-up, they recorded 19,586 deaths from all causes.
The lowest risk of death from all causes was 0.7 servings of chocolate per week and 0.6 servings of cardiovascular events per week. The benefits were more pronounced in subjects who had never smoked compared to current or previous smokers.
The exact cause of aging is not yet clearly understood, but studies suggest that telomeres are associated with the aging process. One study found a strong correlation between telomere shortening rates and the longevity of species such as humans.
Interestingly, a study published in 2020 found that adolescents who consumed more than two servings of chocolate confectionery per week compared to non-consumers, probably due to their effects on the apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) / HDL pathway. The length of leukocyte telomeres becomes longer.
In a 2008 study, cocoa also showed antioxidant, oxidative, and metal chelating effects on common fruit flies.
When choosing to use chocolate for the benefits of weight loss and longevity, it is important to consume the right type.
Dark and raw: This means less sugar is added to the mix, so the darker it is, the better. Prioritize raw cocoa for a cocoa content of at least 70 percent, as more flavanols will be preserved.
organic: This will prevent the residue of the herbicide glyphosate and other pesticides used in traditional agriculture.
fair trade: Cocoa crops are often unfairly traded and are even associated with the use of child slaves.
Read on GreenMedInfo.com a scientific study on the benefits of cocoa or chocolate and how this famous health food, in the right amount and form, can serve as a sweet strategy against illness and premature death.
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