The sweet and rich chocolate is not only the best gift for lovers, but also the favorite of many people for afternoon tea and snacks. The recent studies have pointed out that the cocoa polyphenols and flavonoids in chocolate have the advantage of helping the human body to resist oxidation and stabilize the mood. However, recently rumors on the Internet: "white chocolate is not the same as chocolate," said, really this is the case? Want to enjoy the delicious taste of chocolate while consolidating health, what exactly should be done right? Let's take a look at what the professional nutritionist said!

Eating Chocolate Boo-Bar? 5 health benefits, the key to chocolate cocoa composition

Tour Naijia dietitian said that, from a nutritional point of view, the main component of the composition of chocolate - cocoa contains polyphenols, flavanols, anthocyanins and other Antioxidant substances, moderate intake of human health does protect the heart tube, stabilize mood, enhance nerve cell protection and cognitive ability of the following five benefits:

Benefits 1 / protection of the cardiovascular: Chocolate antioxidant substances contained in the vasculature to help vasodilatation, regulation of inflammatory substances, increase cardiovascular protection ability, has been the result of many studies have confirmed that the number of studies, the number of studies, the number of studies, the number of studies, the number of studies, the number of studies, the number of studies, the number of studies, the number of studies. There have been a number of studies confirming that the antioxidant polyphenols in cocoa are useful in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Benefit #2 / avoid three highs: In rat experiments, found that cocoa has the role of regulating fat synthesis mechanism, and thus affect the metabolism of low-density cholesterol. At the same time, it helps to reduce insulin resistance, increase insulin sensitivity, dilate blood vessels, moderate intake is favorable to avoid high blood fat, high blood sugar, high blood pressure and other three high problems to come to the door.

Benefit 3/Enhance neuroprotection and cognitive ability: Cocoa has the benefit of increasing neuroprotection, and also has a good effect on enhancing cognitive function. It has potential for future development in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Benefits 4 / mood stabilization: Chocolate is known as a symbol of love, happiness, joy, not without reason! Research has confirmed that it may *** different areas of the brain, so it will make people happy, pain relief, anti-anxiety and other mood-regulating effects. In addition, the caffeine contained in chocolate will also *** the release of neurotransmitters in the body, similar to the reaction produced by the consumption of opium.

Benefit #5/Good bacteria growth: A growing number of clinical studies have found that the flavanols and anthocyanins in chocolate can help regulate the body's inflammatory response, which in turn helps to generate good bacteria in the intestine.

White chocolate is not chocolate?

But it's worth noting that although cocoa has many health benefits, however, because the process of making chocolate, mainly from the cacao tree pods out of the cocoa beans, and then the cocoa beans baking, grinding the formation of pure cocoa, and then the pure cocoa through the press into the cocoa butter + solids (cocoa powder) and birth. However, 100% pure cocoa powder has a very bitter taste except for its aroma. Therefore, most of the chocolate on the market is processed again through the blending of cocoa butter + cocoa powder + sugar + milk, and sugar and milk according to the different % (purity) of chocolate, there will be some increase or decrease.

As for white chocolate, according to the EU definition: "white chocolate is composed of 20% cocoa butter + milk + sugar + flavor (vanilla). Because there is no bitter cocoa powder, and contains more milk and sugar, so the taste is more sweet and smooth compared to ordinary chocolate. However, in other words, white chocolate is not strictly considered to be chocolate because no cocoa powder is added during the production process. In particular, if you want to effectively intake of chocolate cocoa polyphenols, flavonoids and other antioxidant components, the consumption of white chocolate is not to get the desired effect!

Marketed chocolate is complicated to process, and there are 3 major health concerns that must be addressed!

You Naijia dietitian also mentioned, although the cocoa component is indeed in many recent studies have been proved to have a variety of health benefits, however, to remind is that the cocoa in the human body is beneficial to the polyphenol and antioxidant content, but also through the processing steps and loss. In addition, in order to increase the texture and flavor of commercially available chocolates, extra sugar and flavorings are often added. The newest addition to the list is a new version of the original, which is now available in a new version of the original, which is now available in a new version of the original, which is now available in a new version of the original, which is now available in a new version of the original, which is now available in a new version of the original, which is now available in a new version of the original, which is now available in a different version of the original.

Trans fat: Many of the cheaper chocolates on the market are made with oils that are not expensive cocoa butter but hydrogenated vegetable oils. If you consume this type of chocolate, there will be a large amount of trans fat eaten in the belly of the doubt, once the intake of excess in addition to lead to weight gain, but also easy to make the blood lipid increase, the risk of cardiovascular disease to enhance.

Hidden Worries 3 / more spices, food additives:

Many chocolates in addition to the additional fat, in order to increase the richness of the product, the diversity of product design, but also to add a different flavor of spices or food additives. If you take too much of the illegal spices and food additives, it may further affect your liver and kidney function, leading to lower immune function, allergies, and even the risk of cancer.

All you need to do is to eat your favorite chocolate. Dietitian: grasp the 3 principles, not more than 200 calories a day more at ease

Yau Nai-kai dietitian suggested that if the public want to consume chocolate, every day should be calories not more than 200 calories is appropriate. The equivalent of 3 ping-pong ball size chocolate ball, 2 poker big milk chocolate chips. In the meantime, keep in mind that the following 3 principles of careful selection before importing are more secure:

Principle 1: Avoid high sugar: The higher the %, the darker the color of the chocolate you choose, the less sugar it will contain.

Principle 2: Choose dark chocolate to avoid the allergic reaction to milk, which can lead to allergy or lactose intolerance.