Hah! I bet you didn’t see that coming did you? It seems that this plant-derived food, which has been consumed for thousands of years, may actually serve to improve health…and tastes pretty damn good too.
Chocolate is rich in antioxidants called flavonols, which, in addition to making us feel good, help protect our arteries and reduce inflammation. Chocolate can be especially good for women that experience strong menopausal symptoms: It can help repair the uterus as well as help decrease menopausal symptoms by diminishing the effects of oxidative stress. It seems that chocolate, when eaten correctly (see below) stimulates the oralphalamic tract in the mouth. This sends hormone-stimulating signals to the brain, producing feel good chemicals like endorphins and encephalons, which are 20x stronger than morphine. The production of these hormones has been shown to help decrease blood pressure, increase mental outlook and overall feelings of well being. HOWEVER, before you go suck down a bag of Hershey Kisses, you’d better have a look at the rules for eating chocolate:
RULES FOR CHOCOLATE
1)THE DARKER, THE BETTER
The darker the chocolate, the better it is for you. Aim for at least 70% dark chocolate and try and get organic. The darker it is, the more bitter it will be. Stay away from milk chocolate products. They will not have the same positive health benefits as dark.
2) KEEPIN’ IT REAL
Look for minimal ingredients and stay the heck away from high-fructose corn syrup or other ingredients you can’t read. The fewer the ingredients on the label, the better it is.
3) LESS IS MORE
Stick to small servings (15-30g/0.5-1oz) at a time and only once per day. Menopausal women can have up to 4 servings/day assuming they are exercising daily.
The best way to consume is to buy a small block and shave off slices with a cheese grater. Take a slice and press between your tongue and the roof of your mouth and allow to melt. This will optimize the neurolingual effect of the chocolate on the brain and create feelings of satiety without eating the whole block.
References:
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/indepth.food/sweets/chocolate.cravings/index.html
