Cocoa:
Healthy Antioxidant Foods - Benefits of Superfood Chocolate, a Favorite Snack
Cocoa beans, the primary ingredient in healthy antioxidant foods and treats comprising dark chocolates, do seem t have some health benefits when taken in moderation with calorie intake in mind. Cocoa and dark chocolates (milk chocolates to a lesser degree) contain flavonoids or flavonals, that are known to help reduce platelet clumping (the main cause of strokes and Transient Ischemic Attacks or TIAs), help reduce blood pressure, help reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) oxidation, and, also have anti-inflammatory properties, besides vitamins and other nutrients including B, C and E and calcium.
Although the cocoa bean superfood does contain fatty acids that can contribute to higher cholesterol levels, one needs to keep in mind overall calorie intake and not eat considerable amounts of chocolate of any kind (this can contribute to blood sugar problems). The benefits of flavonoids found in dark chocolates, known to have cardiovascular system benefits, are significant. A scientific review of 136 publications reported in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association indicated a noticeable reduction in LDL levels of the study groups. Another study indicated that cardiovascular inflammation was reduced slightly, but not as much as with a daily aspirin.
Blood Cholesterol Levels
As healthy antioxidant foods go, dark chocolate does have higher levels of fatty acids and natural fat that one might suspect. The fat in the cacao bean is a saturated fat, but most of the fat is stearic acid. Studies suggest that this particular fatty acid does not elevate blood cholesterol levels nearly as much as most saturated fats. Cocoa beans and the processing for cocoa butter contain desirable levels of monounsaturated fats and palmitic fatty acids (high in flavanols, an important antioxidant) that is shown to provide a slight overall benefit for cardiovascular system health and increases blood flow.
Unbelievably, there is some evidence that a favorite snack, dark chocolate, taken in moderation, may help lower over bad blood cholesterol levels!
Lowering the Likelihood of a Stroke, May Improve Arterial Blood Flow
Long-term trials involving more than 44,000 participants demonstrate the possible benefits of dark chocolate (and flavanols and other compounds in healthy antioxidant foods) consumption in small doses decreases the risk factors of strokes and similar conditions.
The group that ate one serving of dark chocolate a week showed a 22% lower incidence of stroke; and a smaller control group that ate a slightly portion of the snack (50 grams) showed a 45% reduction in the chances of a stroke. This study was reported at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, in April 2010, held in Toronto, Canada.
Blood Pressure, Diabetes and Increase Insulin Sensitivity
As indicated above, healthy antioxidant foods made from cocoa beans, and our favorite snacks apparently do not increase LDL cholesterol levels. Rather, flavanols help regulate good and bad fatty acids in the bloods stream. Additionally, with the benefits of lowering bad LDL cholesterol levels, and not contributing to a pronounce rise in blood sugars, this may just be one more natural superfood that has some slight health benefits.
They May Help People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
A small study in England reports that participants taking 1 1/2 ounces of dark chocolate (85% cocoa) with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) every day for eight weeks felt less fatigued. No weight gain was indicated in the chocolate-eating group. This also supports the supports the research indicating that palmitic fatty acids actual help reduce LDL cholesterol levels in the blood stream.
It is possible that dark chocolates and cocoa improves the functioning neurotransmitters (serotonin for example) that assist the regulation of sleep and even moods.
Improved Chocolates, Healthy Snacks?
Some manufactures of chocolate confectionaries and candy bars are now producing healthier dark chocolate snacks. Of course, the potential of any health benefits need to be weighed with the intake of calories. Some of these products contain cocoa powder with an increased percentage of flavanols; and some products now have additional percentages of cholesterol-lowering soy sterol esters; or have additional percentages of B-vitamins, calcium, and antioxidant-rich vitamins C and E.
Related Links:
Cocoa:
Healthy Antioxidant Foods - Benefits of Superfood Chocolate, a Favorite Snack
Cocoa beans, the primary ingredient in healthy antioxidant foods and treats comprising dark chocolates, do seem t have some health benefits when taken in moderation with calorie intake in mind. Cocoa and dark chocolates (milk chocolates to a lesser degree) contain flavonoids or flavonals, that are known to help reduce platelet clumping (the main cause of strokes and Transient Ischemic Attacks or TIAs), help reduce blood pressure, help reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) oxidation, and, also have anti-inflammatory properties, besides vitamins and other nutrients including B, C and E and calcium.
Although the cocoa bean superfood does contain fatty acids that can contribute to higher cholesterol levels, one needs to keep in mind overall calorie intake and not eat considerable amounts of chocolate of any kind (this can contribute to blood sugar problems). The benefits of flavonoids found in dark chocolates, known to have cardiovascular system benefits, are significant. A scientific review of 136 publications reported in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association indicated a noticeable reduction in LDL levels of the study groups. Another study indicated that cardiovascular inflammation was reduced slightly, but not as much as with a daily aspirin.
Blood Cholesterol Levels
As healthy antioxidant foods go, dark chocolate does have higher levels of fatty acids and natural fat that one might suspect. The fat in the cacao bean is a saturated fat, but most of the fat is stearic acid. Studies suggest that this particular fatty acid does not elevate blood cholesterol levels nearly as much as most saturated fats. Cocoa beans and the processing for cocoa butter contain desirable levels of monounsaturated fats and palmitic fatty acids (high in flavanols, an important antioxidant) that is shown to provide a slight overall benefit for cardiovascular system health and increases blood flow.
Unbelievably, there is some evidence that a favorite snack, dark chocolate, taken in moderation, may help lower over bad blood cholesterol levels!
Lowering the Likelihood of a Stroke, May Improve Arterial Blood Flow
Long-term trials involving more than 44,000 participants demonstrate the possible benefits of dark chocolate (and flavanols and other compounds in healthy antioxidant foods) consumption in small doses decreases the risk factors of strokes and similar conditions.
The group that ate one serving of dark chocolate a week showed a 22% lower incidence of stroke; and a smaller control group that ate a slightly portion of the snack (50 grams) showed a 45% reduction in the chances of a stroke. This study was reported at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, in April 2010, held in Toronto, Canada.
Blood Pressure, Diabetes and Increase Insulin Sensitivity
As indicated above, healthy antioxidant foods made from cocoa beans, and our favorite snacks apparently do not increase LDL cholesterol levels. Rather, flavanols help regulate good and bad fatty acids in the bloods stream. Additionally, with the benefits of lowering bad LDL cholesterol levels, and not contributing to a pronounce rise in blood sugars, this may just be one more natural superfood that has some slight health benefits.
They May Help People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
A small study in England reports that participants taking 1 1/2 ounces of dark chocolate (85% cocoa) with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) every day for eight weeks felt less fatigued. No weight gain was indicated in the chocolate-eating group. This also supports the supports the research indicating that palmitic fatty acids actual help reduce LDL cholesterol levels in the blood stream.
It is possible that dark chocolates and cocoa improves the functioning neurotransmitters (serotonin for example) that assist the regulation of sleep and even moods.
Improved Chocolates, Healthy Snacks?
Some manufactures of chocolate confectionaries and candy bars are now producing healthier dark chocolate snacks. Of course, the potential of any health benefits need to be weighed with the intake of calories. Some of these products contain cocoa powder with an increased percentage of flavanols; and some products now have additional percentages of cholesterol-lowering soy sterol esters; or have additional percentages of B-vitamins, calcium, and antioxidant-rich vitamins C and E.
Related Links: