Often demonized, chocolate is said to be good for your health! Adored for its taste, it was consumed and considered "the food of the gods" during Antiquity. Chocolate is also of great interest to scientists due to its composition of fatty acids, polyphenols, and theobromine, which are thought to have potential health benefits, particularly on the cardiovascular system and mental well-being.
We reveal all its secrets to you!
It is a natural antidepressant
Chocolate reduces mental and physical fatigue by promoting the release of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin, the happiness hormone. It can enrich the diets of depressed people, who are often deficient in these hormones.
In addition, its richness in magnesium contributes to a relaxing effect, thus improving both emotional and social functioning.
It is rich in antioxidants
Thanks to the abundance of flavonoids present in chocolate, it protects the body from damage caused by free radicals, aggressive and unstable molecules. This protection thus reduces the risk of chronic diseases, even cancer. The antioxidant effect of chocolate also improves the beauty of the skin by helping to slow cellular aging.
He takes care of our heart
Thanks to its high polyphenol content, chocolate reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes. It induces the synthesis of several compounds such as nitric oxide, which helps lower blood pressure and improve blood circulation throughout the body, thus promoting vascular relaxation, essential for preventing these diseases.
It boosts our energy
Thanks to its richness in theobromine and magnesium, compounds that stimulate the nervous system, chocolate gives us a natural boost! It also helps improve our cognitive performance, such as memory and attention. Its antioxidant properties also act as neuroprotection, preventing the decline in intellectual capacity linked to age, making it particularly interesting for fighting diseases such as Alzheimer's.
It helps regulate blood sugar levels
Although it's recommended to eat it in moderation, chocolate also contributes to the body's use of glucose. By slowing the digestion and absorption of sugars in the intestine, the compounds in chocolate provide significant anti-diabetic action, particularly for type 2 diabetes, also known as "diabetes mellitus," and help reduce insulin resistance and the risk of obesity.
Additionally, the smell of chocolate triggers the release of ghrelin, the hunger hormone, increasing satiety and reducing appetite, thus aiding in weight loss. Finally, dark chocolate is beneficial in lowering body cholesterol levels, which helps reduce obesity and the risk of coronary heart disease, which is very common in obese people.
đź’ˇInsulin is the satiety hormone that is produced after a meal to limit excessive increases in blood sugar.
While the benefits of chocolate are well-known, it's important to remember that not all chocolates are created equal. Indeed, it's important to choose dark chocolate with a minimum of 60% cocoa, as the benefits of chocolate are concentrated in the latter, and up to 40 grams per day (which corresponds to 4 squares), but nothing prevents you from treating yourself from time to time ;). We stop feeling guilty and treat ourselves with foods that are good for our body and our taste buds.
