Is Chocolate GOOD for u?..

Question: Is Chocolate Good or Bad for You?

I've heard that chocolates are very bad for you. That people hurt in their joints if they continuously eat a lot of it. Why is this? Is it true? Why is it addictive? Keith - About.com User

Answer: Chocolate will not damage your joints. Being overweight will hurt your joints. So, if a person is overweight and eats lots of chocolate, he may blame the chocolate. But it is really due to the fact that he consumes too many total calories each day. There is, however, the possibility that a person could be allergic to some ingredient in a chocolate candy bar which could cause some swelling.

 

Recent research shows that chocolate can provide natural health-promoting substances called flavonoids.Since flavonoids seem to help prevent heart disease and cancer, the idea of eating chocolate sounds like a tempting and delicious way to better your health. The complete message is, however, that although chocolate might be preferable to other treats, it is no substitute for vegetables and fruits, which also contain flavonoids.

The flavonoids in chocolate that laboratory studies demonstrate to have powerful antioxidant effects are called flavanols and procyanidins. These two compounds come from the flavonoid “family” that includes resveratrol, found in grape juice, and EGCG, found in green tea. When people consume these substances in chocolate and cocoa, the antioxidant status of their blood increases.

why we LOVE chocolate?

Do you ever wonder why we love chocolate so much? The answer may seem as simple as because it tastes good, but there may be more to it than that. There are actual studies to back up some of the physical effects you can experience while eating certain kinds of chocolates. The stimulation your body gets provides a pleasant feeling to your taste buds, making you always come back for more. Chocolate is known to be a mild mood elevator, stimulating brainwaves and pushing your stress levels down. This is probably why alot of people will stuff themselves with sweets when they are angry or upset. Little do they know it, but they are actually helping themselves out by eating chocolates. When your stress levels lower, you become more relaxed which in turn is beneficial to your health. And of course there is the benefit your taste buds feel when consuming your favorite candy bar or other chocolate treat. Eating sweets just puts you in a better mood, keeping you in touch with the child within. Whether it is peanut butter flavored chocolates, chocolate covered raisins, or creamy white chocolate you will be experiencing utter satisfaction when you indulge yourself. It's hard to explain, but only true chocolate lovers will understand this.
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