Benefits and Risks of Chocolates

Good Livingis an act of intelligence, by which we choose thingswhich have an agreeable tasterather than those which do not - Brillat Savarin

I love chocolates, do you? I heard that chocolates bring us some benefits, but i also know there are lot of people avoid chocolates for some reasons. That facts push me to know more about chocolates.

Chocolate is regularly eaten for pleasure. Besides, there are many potential beneficial effects on health of eating chocolate. There has even been a fad diet, named "Chocolate diet", that emphasizes eating chocolate and cocoa powder in capsules. Indeed, small but regular amounts of dark chocolate lower the possibility of a heart attack.

On the other hand, eating large quantities of any chocolate increases risk of obesity. The major concern that nutritionists have is that even though eating dark chocolate may favorably affect certain biomarkers of cardiovascular disease, the amount needed to have this effect would provide a relatively large quantity of calories, which, if unused, would promote weight gain.

There is a popular belief that the consumption of chocolate can cause acne. The statement is still being studied. Milk is known to cause acne, including any which is mixed with chocolate. There is concern of mild lead poisoning for some types of chocolate. Chocolate is toxic to many animals because of insufficient capacity to metabolize theobromine.

Part of the pleasure of eating chocolate is due to the fact that its melting point is slightly below human body temperature: it melts in the mouth. A study reported by the BBC indicated that melting chocolate in one's mouth produced an increase in brain activity and heart rate that was more intense than that associated with passionate kissing, and also lasted four times as long after the activity had ended.

Since chocolates give us positive and negative sides, i remind you : don't eat it too much! (like i always remind myself :p)

Sources : http://www.wikipedia.org/