Speaking of chocolate, many people love and fear it, love its sweetness and affection, and love it can always bring us taste and visual surprises; But afraid of its "crisis", many people will not hesitate to put it on the opposite side of "losing weight". Diabetes, obesity and tooth decay all seem to be inextricably linked with chocolate. ?

When we uncover the N truths about chocolate and health, you don't have to worry, because some worries in the past are actually unnecessary.

1. Good for the heart?

Dark chocolate contains a "mysterious ingredient"-natural antioxidant flavone, which can reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol). When low density lipoprotein cholesterol is oxidized, plaques may form in blood vessels. When plaque appears in an artery, it will block blood vessels and lead to a heart attack. Preventing blood vessels from forming plaques is very important for keeping the heart healthy. Studies have shown that after eating chocolate rich in flavanols, free radicals in the body will be reduced, LDL oxidation will be inhibited, and the antioxidant capacity in the blood will be enhanced. ?

Therefore, chocolate has a great protective effect on cardiovascular system, which can prevent vascular sclerosis, increase myocardial vitality, relax muscles and prevent cholesterol from accumulating in blood vessels, which is beneficial to cardiovascular health. ?

2. lower blood pressure?

Scientists have found that chocolate with high cocoa content (that is, dark chocolate) is rich in flavonoids and has the effect of lowering blood pressure. A survey of 44 healthy adults by German researchers showed that after eating less than 30 calories of dark chocolate every day, their blood pressure dropped by an average of 2.9 mm Hg after 18 weeks. However, white chocolate and excessive consumption of chocolate have no such effect. It is best to eat low-sugar dark chocolate, because ordinary chocolate is rich in sugar and fat, and the calories are very high, which are the enemies of patients with hypertension. ?

Cocoflavanol can maintain normal blood pressure by maintaining vascular health. Scientists have found that cuna, an American tribe living on an island far from the coast of Central America, has a high cocoa intake, but the incidence of hypertension is relatively low. The researchers speculate that there may be some connection between the two. ?

In addition, Kuna's traditional diet contains a lot of salt, which is a typical food related to hypertension. However, the incidence of hypertension in this population is very low. The research shows that cocoa beverage is a traditional beverage in Kuna, and a large amount of flavanol ingested through this beverage plays a certain role in maintaining the healthy blood pressure of this population. Studies have also shown that cocoa flavanols can increase the concentration of nitric oxide in blood. Nitric oxide is very important for relaxing blood vessels and increasing blood flow, so it is also important for maintaining healthy blood pressure. ?

3. Is blood sugar stable?

It is reported that an Italian study found that healthy people ate dark chocolate for 15 days, and the daily dose was100g, which enhanced their sensitivity to insulin. Doctors estimate that dark chocolate may help diabetics. A recent study also found that flavanols in dark chocolate can stabilize blood sugar. But diabetics can only eat moderate amounts of sugar-free dark chocolate. ?

4. Relieve diarrhea?

The cocoa content of dark chocolate ranges from 50% to 90%. Cocoa is rich in polyphenols called flavonoids, which can inhibit the intestinal absorption of protein, chloride ion and water, thus reducing water loss and preventing people from dehydration due to diarrhea. ?

5. Prevent stroke?

American researchers have found that dark chocolate contains a compound that can reduce brain damage within 3.5 hours after a stroke. Researchers say that eating one serving of chocolate a week can reduce the risk of stroke by 22%. ?

6. replenish physical strength?

Chocolate can quickly replenish physical strength. People should make sure that their diet contains enough carbohydrates when exercising and traveling. Carbohydrates can delay fatigue and help you keep exercising. Sports nutrition research shows that before exercise, chocolate can replenish energy to the body and make the sugar in the muscles and liver in the most full state, thus helping to improve sports performance. After exercise, chocolate can replenish the energy consumed by people in exercise in time, delay fatigue, and is conducive to the recovery of the body after exercise. ?

Chocolate also contains many minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper. They will promote the circulation of oxygen in the blood and replenish the nutrients consumed during exercise in time. ?

The human body absorbs and digests chocolate very quickly, so it is called "the Hercules of Midwives" by experts. If pregnant women eat some chocolate properly before labor, they can gain enough strength to open the cervix as soon as possible and give birth smoothly, which is very beneficial to both mother and baby. ?

7. Relieve stress?

Psychologists believe that when a man and a woman fall in love, their brains will be covered with a substance called phenylethylamine, which will produce a good mood; And chocolate just contains this substance, so it can make people feel romantic. ?

In addition, chocolate can raise the level of a chemical called "Sai Lottonen" in the brain. It can bring people a sense of peace and better ability to cope with tension, and play a role in relieving stress. ?

8. Create happiness?

Chocolate is the maker of happiness. A lot of scientific research shows that chocolate brings people a good mood because phenylethylamine in chocolate can help regulate people's mood. Chocolate is also rich in magnesium, which has sedative and antidepressant effects. A piece of Dove dark chocolate weighing 44 grams contains about 50.6 mg of magnesium. Eating dark chocolate will make people feel happy, thus reducing the occurrence of more diseases in a greater sense. ?

9. Help to lose weight?

Can't believe it? In fact, the reason is very simple. First of all, the fat of dark chocolate is not as high as people think, and a large part of it is unsaturated fat, which will not be converted into your meat. In addition, dark chocolate will burn some fat and calories in your body during digestion and absorption. As long as you master the correct diet (eat before meals), eating some dark chocolate in moderation (up to 50 grams a day) will not make you fat, and even have the effect of losing weight. Switzerland is a big chocolate country. Their per capita consumption of chocolate is nearly 200 times that of ours, but it is one of the countries with the least obesity. ?

10. Improve sexual desire?

A survey by Italian researchers shows that 143 women who eat chocolate in moderation every day find that they seem to have stronger sexual desire, smoother vagina and reach orgasm in a shorter time. ?

In addition, during the ancient Mayan civilization, people firmly believed that the gods gave cocoa beans to mankind. They think that the fragrance of cocoa beans can make people refreshed and stimulate sexual desire. ?

1 1. Moisturize the skin?

German researchers asked 24 women to drink half a cup of concentrated flavonoid cocoa powder every day. After three months, these women's skin became more moist and smooth, and the symptoms such as pigmentation and dandruff caused by sun exposure were effectively improved. Researchers believe that flavonoids are absorbed by ultraviolet rays, which helps to protect and increase the blood circulation of the skin, thus improving the appearance. ?

12. delay aging?

The antioxidant function of cocoa flavanol in dark chocolate has been deeply rooted in people's hearts. Eating chocolate regularly can obviously inhibit the increase of oxidants in the body, thus preventing the rapid aging of the human body. Experiments show that the life expectancy of the elderly who often eat dark chocolate in moderation is significantly longer than that of the group who don't eat dark chocolate. ?

13. Make people smart?

Chocolate? Can make people smart. Scientists from Nottingham University found that eating chocolate and other foods can improve thinking and cognitive ability in a short time. ?

The research team led by Professor Ian MacDonald found that eating cocoa drinks rich in flavanols (the main component of dark chocolate) can promote blood flow in some important areas of the brain within 2-3 hours. The increase of blood flow in some specific areas of the brain is helpful to improve the ability of the brain and make people more acute in a short time. ?

14.？ Prevent colds?

British research shows that the sweetness of chocolate can reduce the chance of catching a cold. Theobromine contained in chocolate is beneficial to the health of nervous system, and theobromine has antitussive effect. ?

15.

It is generally believed that all foods containing fermentable carbohydrates will play a potential role in the formation of dental caries. Although chocolate contains fermentable carbohydrates, many dental experts show that chocolate may not be as easy to cause tooth decay as traditionally thought. Studies by the Foces Dental Center and the School of Dentistry of the University of Pennsylvania show that cocoa powder and chocolate may offset the sugar and acid contained in them. Cocoa powder and chocolate have also been proved to slow down the demineralization process, which is an activity that directly leads to dental caries.