Printable View
I heard that dark chocolate is good for health but how much good for health it is ? How much we can eat safely daily ? Is there any fixed quantity backed by some scientific research ?
Also tell me what are its all benefit ?
I understand that eating anything too much can cause bad effect no matter how beneficial it is for health, so this is the reason I want to know its quantity safe to eat or consume daily?
I was reading around and found that you are good if you are eating as little as 10 grams of pure chocolate every day. So if you are eating a 50 gm bar and then you already have more than required chocolate for that day.
Dark chocolate is very delicious and healthy stuff to eat..
The primary health-promoting benefit of dark chocolate comes from its high levels of flavonoids — potent antioxidants also found (albeit in lower amounts) in tea, red wine, and apples. Antioxidants are important because they protect cells and tissues from damage by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can alter and weaken cells. Consider them as an insurance policy against the wear and tear that comes from stress, poor diet, and the inevitable process of aging.
Moreover, it mproves blood flow and protects arteries. A 2007 Swiss study of heart transplant patients found that the diameter of their coronary arteries was significantly increased after eating a single dose of dark chocolate. Which means that dark chocolate has a healthy effect on these important arteries that supply life-sustaining oxygen to the heart. A 2007 study by Chinese researchers found that participants who ate approximately 1.5 ounces of dark chocolate daily for two weeks significantly improved coronary blood flow. "Blood flow is vital to heart health because the blood carries oxygen, and oxygen is fuel for cells," explains Tom Morledge, MD, of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. Consider that the heart pumps 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and it's easy to see why an optimum source of energy is important to its function. On the other hand, eating a fast food hamburger with all the trimmings can cause the arteries in our bodies to have impaired function within an hour.
Also, prevents blockage of the arteries. LDL, or "lousy," cholesterol becomes harmful if it is damaged by free radicals, which changes the structure of the LDL, causing it to become oxidized LDL cholesterol. Oxidized LDL cholesterol is then taken up by inflammatory cells that are in the lining of the arteries. The more accumulation, the more likely it is to form blockages that can impede blood flow or clots that can rapidly form, which trigger a heart attack. "Many studies suggest that the flavonoids in dark chocolate decrease the free radical damage of LDL cholesterol," Dr. Morledge says. In addition, the flavonoids have a similar effect to aspirin. "Flavonoids are a natural blood thinner and affect platelets which can cause clots that lead to heart attacks.” We don’t know yet whether dark chocolate can actually prevent a heart attack, but some recent studies suggest that this might be the case.
And best part is that it raises levels of good cholesterol. HDL, or "healthy," cholesterol works to moderate overall levels of cholesterol, and even small increases in HDL can lead to significant reduction in risk of developing heart disease. "For every 1 milligram improvement in HDL cholesterol, you get a 2 percent reduction in the risk of a heart attack," Dr. Morledge says. Although studies present conflicting evidence about the full impact dark chocolate on HDL levels, several studies have linked dark chocolate consumption with higher HDL.
Man, I am going to start eating dark chocolate daily in small amount.. its yummy too :)
A study of nearly 20,000 people, followed over a period of eight years, concluded that those who ate an average of 6 grams (0.2 oz) of chocolate per day, had a 39% lower risk of heart attack or stroke. That's a very small amount of chocolate, perhaps only half a single square of a typical 100g dark chocolate bar.