There are many health benefits of chocolate. Apart from being a delicious snack, chocolate can also improve mood. However, excessive consumption of chocolate can have a negative effect on health. Therefore, you need to be more careful in consuming chocolate.
Chocolate comes from cocoa beans which can be processed into various types of food and beverages. In addition, chocolate is also often used as a mixture to make cakes, biscuits, ice cream, to candy.
Chocolate is rich in antioxidants, including polyphenols, flavanols, and catechins. Thanks to this content, chocolate can provide a variety of health benefits. So, what are the benefits of chocolate?
Various Benefits of Chocolate for Health
There are several health benefits of chocolate that you can get, including:
1. Boost mood
The benefits of this one chocolate need not be doubted. Chocolate is indeed very well known to increase mood.
A study shows that chocolate consumption can reduce the hormone cortisol, which the body produces when stressed and stimulates the brain to release more endorphins and serotonin hormones that can make you feel happy.
2. Controls appetite
A study says that eating chocolate before or after a meal can provide a feeling of fullness. This can reduce your desire to eat snacks that can trigger weight gain.
Therefore, chocolate consumption is believed to be able to control appetite, so it is good for losing weight and maintaining an ideal body weight.
3. Maintain healthy heart and blood vessels
The content of flavonoids in chocolate can improve blood flow and reduce the risk of blockages in blood vessels. This effect makes chocolate a good food for preventing heart disease and stroke.
However, further research is still needed to ensure the effectiveness of chocolate in preventing stroke.
4. Control blood sugar levels
The benefits of the flavonoid content in chocolate that are no less important is controlling blood sugar levels. Therefore, chocolate is good to eat to prevent insulin resistance and diabetes.
However, to get these benefits, you need to be more careful in choosing the chocolate to be consumed. Some types of chocolate have added sugar and can actually cause diabetes if consumed in excess.
5. Lowers cholesterol levels
Chocolate is believed to reduce levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood. Therefore, the benefits of chocolate are good for preventing the buildup of cholesterol in the blood vessels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
However, research on the benefits of chocolate has only been done on a small scale and requires further research to ensure its effectiveness.
6. Maintain brain function and health
Consuming chocolate is also known to be good for maintaining brain health and function. This benefit comes from the flavonoid content in chocolate which can improve concentration and memory.
Not only that, the epicatein content in chocolate can also reduce the risk of decreased brain function that can cause dementia or senile dementia.
7. Inhibit the growth of cancer cells
The antioxidant content in chocolate is believed to be able to prevent cell damage which is one of the causes of cancer. A study says that someone who regularly consumes chocolate can reduce the risk of developing cancer.
However, studies on the anticancer effects of chocolate are still limited and further research is needed.
Tips for Safe Eating Chocolate
Although it has various health benefits, excessive consumption of chocolate, especially those containing added sugar, can pose a risk of health problems, such as:
- Tooth decay
- Overweight or obesity
- Acne appears or worsens existing acne
- Allergic reaction
In addition, chocolate also contains caffeine which, when consumed in excess, can cause side effects in the form of increased heart rate, frequent urination, difficulty sleeping, constipation, and migraines.
To be safe and avoid these risks, you are encouraged to be more careful in consuming chocolate. Here are some tips for eating chocolate that you can do:
- Choose dark chocolate that contains 70–85% cocoa.
- Avoid consuming too much milk chocolate, as it usually has added sugar and contains more fat.
- Avoid adding skim milk to chocolate drinks.
- Limit chocolate consumption to at least 20 grams per day.
- Pay attention to the nutritional value that is usually listed on the packaging of chocolate bars or cocoa powder before consuming it.
If you experience certain symptoms after consuming chocolate, such as headaches, nausea, or vomiting, immediately consult a doctor so that appropriate treatment can be carried out.
In addition, the doctor can also determine the limit of chocolate consumption according to your condition so that you can get the maximum benefits of chocolate.