Chocolate is really medicine
- Green tea, black tea, red wine and blueberries all contain beneficial flavinoids – but none are as high as chocolate.
- The amount of caffeine in chocolate is significantly lower than in tea, coffee or cola drinks.
- Fine chocolate can help to lower cholesterol.
- A study of 8000 male Harvard graduates showed that chocoholics lived longer than those who didn’t eat chocolate.
- Jeanne Calment habitually ate two pounds of chocolate every week until her physician persuaded her to give it up – at the age of 119.
- Eating chocolate triggers the release of endorphins in the body which makes us happy when we eat it. We all knew that!
- Chocolate’s key ingredient could be phynylethylamine which is similar to a chemical that’s produced in your body when you’re in love.
- A study at the University of Pennsylvania found no link between chocolate consumption and acne.
- Eating chocolate helps to ease the symptoms of a hangover. We knew that too!
- Scientists have found that a chemical called pentamer which occurs naturally in cocoa may stop the spread of cancerous cells. Adding milk to chocolate cancels out the effect, so stick to dark chocolate for best health benefits.
- A few squares of dark chocolate is good for the heart. Those who regularly eat chocolate have a lower risk of blood clotting problems which can trigger deadly heart seizures.
