It’s almost Easter – the holiday season of chocolate! How much do you know about this brown delicious treat?
Some health
facts on cocoa (not the Cadbury kind, but the actual bean!):
Cocoa is a
potent antioxidant – it contains what is known as flavonoids, which counteract
some cellular damage that can lead to chronic diseases, such as cancer and
heart disease. Studies have found that those who consume dark chocolate daily
had reduced blood pressure, cholesterol levels and improved blood supply
function. A cup of cocoa has almost 3 times the antioxidants of a cup of
green tea!
Cocoa is a
natural happy food – this is thought to be due to its content of
phenylethylamine which has a mood elevating effect, similar to amphetamine
substances. This indicates it could be good for those who are depressed, but
may be in an issue for people prone to anxiety or panic attacks. There is also
evidence that this chemical can be addictive – chocoholics are real!
The bad side
of cocoa? Unless you are a consuming sugar free dark chocolate bar, most
commercial chocolate contains sugar which can affect insulin levels, especially
if you consume large amounts of it! Some also contain high fructose corn syrup,
hydrogenated oils and milk products, which destroy the antioxidant abilities.
Want to know
how cocoa makes it from the tree to the supermarket shelf? I found this video
to be interesting (despite the cheesy music and branding advertising): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRnxBaRnT2w&feature=related
This Easter,
try to get a dark chocolate egg with as high percentage of cocoa as possible,
or try raw chocolate as a treat. Once you start to get the taste for dark
chocolate, you won’t convert back to milk chocolate – it will be way too sweet!
–Laura x
