It's amazing the power it has on us all. I always thought the theory of something you consumed could change your character or mood so much, but it does. It's only as I get older that I'm beginning to enjoy it more.What is this miraculous product? It's chocolate.
Chocolate had been scientifically tested for the impact it has on us. These range from supporting cardiovascular health to showing a reduced risk of certain types of cancer. Of course, the type of chocolate you consume has differing medical benefits. Best for your heart and body is dark chocolate with a high level of cocoa of 70% plus. It's a bit bitter, but so good for you.
These benefits are well researched and I wish I had been involved as a test subject in one of these studies. One study involved men and women melting chocolate in their mouths. These lucky people were hooked up to all manner of analytical machines. They found out that chocolate races your heart a little faster and gave an increase in brain activity. Nothing alarming there, but they also measured the long term effects it had compared to another activities that also races the heart. They compared the satisfaction of eating chocolate to kissing. Melting chocolate in your mouth was found to have a far more intense sensation by up to four times than that of kissing. That sounds like a terrible day at work - eating chocolate and kissing people.
Another study in the USA was on the impact it has on headaches. They found out that the increased daily intake of chocolate reduced the symptoms of migraines. Talk about it being brain food! The same study also stated that regular dark chocolate consumption showed a modest reduction in blood pressure.
Survivors of heart attacks were tested too. They found that those who consumed chocolate two or three times a week reduced their risk of death by up to three times than those who didn't eat any chocolate. Like hello? Why would you not eat chocolate to reduce your risk of actually dying? Unless you were actually allergic, of course.
One Swiss study tested a group of smokers. Twenty smokers were each given 40 grams of chocolate and told to go away and enjoy it. The scientists then hooked each person up to an echo-cardiogram machine to measure their blood flow two hours after consumption. They found that their echo graphs showed that black chocolate with a cocoa content of 74% or more dramatically improved their blood flow. They tested the smokers as they would have narrower valves than those who didn't smoke.
By-products of chocolate are also beneficial. Another USA study was on chocolate milk and they tested athletes post exercise. They gave one group your atypical high carbohydrate sports drink and the other group low fat chocolate milk - all with the same amount of calories. They found out after just one week, that the chocolate milk speeded up muscle recovery twice as fast as the sports drink.
One final study was concerning the link of chocolate consumption to intelligence. We all feel more empowered after eating a square of chocolate. Nobel prizes are awarded each year to the brightest and most imaginative of minds all around the world. Who has the most Nobel winners per capita in the world? And who has the highest per capita consumption of chocolate in the world? The answer to both questions is Switzerland.So go out there and get some chocolate into you. As many of it's long term benefits far outweigh the negatives of putting on a few pounds.
I suddenly feel peckish. How about a Kit Kat and a cup of tea?
