Prednosti Tamne čokolade: 9 Načina Na Koje Može Pomoći (uključujući Mršavljenje, Zdravlje Kože I Srca)

Sadržaj:

Video: Prednosti Tamne čokolade: 9 Načina Na Koje Može Pomoći (uključujući Mršavljenje, Zdravlje Kože I Srca)

Video: Prednosti Tamne čokolade: 9 Načina Na Koje Može Pomoći (uključujući Mršavljenje, Zdravlje Kože I Srca)
Video: LIJEČI SRCE, MOZAK I CRIJEVA, ALI JU NI SLUČAJNO NEMOJTE KUHATI!! 2024, Travanj
Prednosti Tamne čokolade: 9 Načina Na Koje Može Pomoći (uključujući Mršavljenje, Zdravlje Kože I Srca)
Prednosti Tamne čokolade: 9 Načina Na Koje Može Pomoći (uključujući Mršavljenje, Zdravlje Kože I Srca)
Anonim

Tamna čokolada puna je hranjivim sastojcima i izvrstan je izvor antioksidansa. Naravno, griješno je slatkog okusa, ali prepuštajući mu se više ne mora osjećati krivnju!

Studije navode da umjereni unos tamne čokolade može pomoći kod gubitka kilograma. Može smanjiti probavu i apsorpciju masti i povećati sitost (1).

Tamna čokolada također može imati blagodati za kožu i srce, između ostalog. Izvor je snažnih antioksidansa i drugih važnih hranjivih sastojaka. Sadrži 50-90% čvrstih sastojaka kakaa, kakao maslaca i šećera. Može sadržavati i tragove maslaca - iako u većini slučajeva malo vjerojatan.

U ovom ćemo postu detaljno istražiti što nam istraživanje govori o tamnoj čokoladi. Također ćemo se osvrnuti na moguće nuspojave koje bi moglo izazvati jesti previše tamne čokolade.

Sadržaj

  • Kako vam koristi tamna čokolada?
  • Koji je prehrambeni profil tamne čokolade?
  • Kako odabrati najzdraviju tamnu čokoladu
  • Koji su nuspojave tamne čokolade?

Kako vam koristi tamna čokolada?

Flavanoli kakao u tamnoj čokoladi doprinose većini njegovih blagodati. Ovi flavanoli imaju antioksidativne učinke koji promiču zdravlje srca, pomažu u borbi protiv raka i jačaju rad mozga. Tamna čokolada također može pomoći u gubitku kilograma.

1. Može pomoći u mršavljenju

Umjereni unos tamne čokolade može povećati sitost i može dovesti do gubitka kilograma.

Istraživanja sugeriraju da bi tamna čokolada mogla imati ulogu u gubitku kilograma. Može smanjiti ekspresiju gena koji sudjeluju u sintezi masnih kiselina. To smanjuje probavu i apsorpciju masti i ugljikohidrata, a time i sitost (1).

Konzumacija tamne čokolade također bi mogla biti korisna za smanjenje opsega težine u pretilih žena s normalnom težinom (stanje koje uključuje višak tjelesne masti s normalnim indeksom tjelesne mase) (2).

Međutim, umjerenost je ključna. Samo 100 grama tamne čokolade sadrži oko 600 kalorija (3). Dakle, nemojte imati više od jedne kocke tamne čokolade dnevno.

2. Može zaštititi vašu kožu

Flavanoli u tamnoj čokoladi mogu zaštititi kožu od oštećenja na suncu.

Studije pokazuju da prehrambeni flavanoli iz kakaa nude fotozaštitu i poboljšavaju dermalnu cirkulaciju krvi (4).

Ovaj se učinak može pripisati antioksidantima (posebno flavanolima) u tamnoj čokoladi (4).

3. Svibanj jača zdravlje srca

Antioksidanti tamne čokolade mogu smanjiti rizik od srčanih bolesti sprečavanjem oksidacije, snižavanjem razine lošeg kolesterola i povišenjem razine dobrog kolesterola.

Uobičajeni unos čokolade može smanjiti rizik od koronarnih bolesti. Studije su sugerirale da tamna čokolada može imati više koristi od mliječne. Jedan od glavnih razloga ovog učinka mogli bi biti flavonoidi u tamnoj čokoladi (5).

Neki izvori tvrde da tamna čokolada može pospješiti proizvodnju dušikovog oksida koji opušta krvne žile i pojačava protok krvi. Međutim, potrebno nam je više istraživanja da bismo to utvrdili.

Nema dokaza da oni koji se bave zdravljem kardiovaskularnog sustava moraju izbjegavati tamnu čokoladu (ili čokoladu općenito) (5).

Studije pokazuju da je jedenje tamne čokolade više od pet puta tjedno povezano s 57% nižim rizikom od koronarne bolesti (6).

Znamo da je tamna čokolada napravljena od kakaa. Prema japanskoj studiji, polifenoli u kakau u prahu mogu sniziti LDL (loši kolesterol), povisiti HDL (dobar kolesterol) i suzbiti oksidirani LDL (7).

Nije problem LDL, već oksidirani LDL. Antioksidanti u kakau mogu spriječiti oksidaciju LDL-a (8).

4. Može promovirati funkciju mozga

Flavonoli u tamnoj čokoladi mogu podići raspoloženje i poboljšati kognitivno zdravlje kod starijih osoba.

U istraživanju provedenom na pet zdravih ispitanika utvrđeno je da unos tamne čokolade (sa 70% sadržaja kakaa) poboljšava ponašanje i zdravlje mozga (9). Međutim, u tijeku su daljnja istraživanja koja će razraditi ove mehanizme.

U drugoj studiji koju je proveo isti tim, utvrđeno je da tamna čokolada poboljšava neuronsku signalizaciju i osjetnu percepciju (10).

Redoviti unos flavanola kakaa također može biti učinkovit u poboljšanju kognitivnog zdravlja kod starijih osoba s blagim mentalnim oštećenjem (11).

Tamna čokolada također potiče raspoloženje i može ublažiti emocionalni stres. Međutim, potrebna su nam daljnja istraživanja kako bismo razumjeli uključene mehanizme (12).

Tamna čokolada također sadrži spoj nazvan epikatehin, za koji je utvrđeno da smanjuje oštećenje mozga u slučaju moždanog udara (13). Ali nisu sve tamne čokolade jednake. Stoga provjerite jeste li pregledali popis sastojaka.

5. Može pomoći u prevenciji raka

Studije na štakorima ističu moguću vezu između unosa tamne čokolade i prevencije raka debelog crijeva (14). Utvrđeno je da dijeta koja uključuje tamnu čokoladu smanjuje proliferaciju stanica i upale.

Dnevni unos male količine flavanola iz tamne čokolade i drugih izvora može biti prirodan pristup potencijalnoj prevenciji raka debelog crijeva. Međutim, u tom pogledu trebamo više istraživanja (15).

Prema Američkom društvu za borbu protiv raka, flavanoli u zrnu kakaa (tamna čokolada) mogu pomoći u smanjenju oštećenja stanica. No, prema izvješću, rezultati ne navode mogu li se antikancerogeni učinci pripisati tamnoj čokoladi ili su samo flavanoli pronađeni i u drugoj hrani (16).

Kakao tamne čokolade također sadrži visoke koncentracije katehina i procijanidina koji mogu imati blagotvoran učinak protiv oksidacijskog stresa i kronične upale, koji su obje faktori rizika za rak (17).

6. Svibanj pomoći liječenju dijabetesa

Konzumacija tamne čokolade može smanjiti razinu šećera u krvi, prema nekim studijama.

Moguće je da polifenoli kakaa u tamnoj čokoladi mogu izravno utjecati na rezistenciju na inzulin i smanjiti rizik od dijabetesa. Oni mogu inducirati stvaranje beta-stanica gušterače i stimulirati izlučivanje inzulina, čime smanjuju razinu šećera u krvi. Potrebno je izvesti više studija za daljnju analizu antidijabetičkih učinaka tamne čokolade (18).

Međutim, izvješća nagovještavaju da tamna čokolada može imati neke štetne učinke (iako samo rijetko) na ljude koji imaju dijabetes. Ali to još treba potvrditi snažnim istraživanjima.

7. May Enhance Vision

In a study, dark chocolate exhibited a better ability to improve visual acuity than its white counterpart. This effect was only temporary (for about two hours), however. The long-term effects of dark chocolate on vision health need further research (19).

8. May Promote Gut Health

The good microbes in the gut, namely Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria, ferment dark chocolate and produce anti-inflammatory compounds (20).

In another study, the consumption of foods rich in cocoa flavanols could significantly improve the growth of beneficial gut bacteria (21). Although further research is required, this is a promising finding.

9. May Improve Hair Health

Dark chocolate is rich in cocoa. This cocoa contains proanthocyanidins, compounds that were known to promote hair growth in animal studies (22).

In mice, proanthocyanidins were found to induce the anagen phase of hair growth (23). Anagen is the active growth phase of hair follicles where the hair root divides rapidly, adding to the hair shaft.

More research is warranted to understand if dark chocolate can actually have any impact on hair health.

We have seen some of the nutrients that make dark chocolate beneficial to human health. In the following section, we will further explore its nutritional profile.

What Is The Nutritional Profile Of Dark Chocolate?

Calories Amounts Per Selected Serving Total Carbohydrate
Total Fat
Protein Amounts Per Selected Serving Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol) Vitamin K Amounts Per Selected Serving Calcium

A bar of dark chocolate (100 grams) with 70-80% cocoa content contains about 600 calories. That is a lot, but obviously, you aren’t going to consume 100 grams of dark chocolate every day (we don’t recommend you do that either).

One ounce of dark chocolate (28 grams) contains about 3 grams of fiber, 27% DV of manganese, 25% DV of copper, 19% DV of iron, and 16% DV of magnesium.

The much-discussed goodness of dark chocolate comes from its cocoa content. Cocoa is replete with plant chemicals (called flavanols) that may protect the heart. It contains two to three times more flavanol-rich cocoa solids than its milk cousin.

The other important nutrients in dark chocolate include iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, and phosphorus – all of which contribute to your overall health (3).

As we discussed, not all dark chocolate is created equal. The market is flooded with different brands. How do you pick the best of the lot?

How To Choose The Healthiest Dark Chocolate

Not every dark chocolate is created equal. There are a few things to keep in mind before you go ahead and pick your bar of dark chocolate.

How To Choose The Healthiest Dark Chocolate
How To Choose The Healthiest Dark Chocolate
Image
Image

Though beneficial, dark chocolate can cause certain undesirable effects.

What Are The Side Effects Of Dark Chocolate?

Anxiety

Owing to the caffeine in dark chocolate (and chocolate, in general), excess intake can lead to anxiety issues (24). Hence, consume it in moderation.

Heart Arrhythmia

Dark chocolate does have great benefits for the heart. But the caffeine it contains may cause irregular heartbeat in susceptible individuals. Some research shows a link between chocolate, caffeine, and arrhythmia (25). Hence, moderation is key.

Diabetes

Cocoa might interfere with blood sugar control in diabetes patients (26). More research is ongoing in this regard. Please check with your doctor if you can have dark chocolate if you have diabetes.

Pregnancy And Breastfeeding

For pregnant and breastfeeding women, dark chocolate (and other chocolate, in general) is safe in normal amounts. Don’t go overboard (due to its caffeine content) (27). Consume in moderation.

Other Possible Issues With Caffeine

The caffeine in dark chocolate may also aggravate the following conditions (individuals with these conditions must consume dark chocolate in moderation):

  • Diarrhea
  • Glaucoma
  • High blood pressure
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Osteoporosis

However, there is less information if dark chocolate by itself may cause any of these issues. Please consult your doctor in case you have any of the health conditions.

Conclusion

Dark chocolate is a healthful delicacy. It contains important antioxidants that promote human health. But it also comes with too many calories. Hence, moderation is key. Ensure you have not more than an ounce (or even half) in a day to enjoy its benefits without any issues.

Expert’s Answers For Readers’ Questions

How is dark chocolate different from milk chocolate?

While dark chocolate contains the most cocoa content, milk chocolate is primarily made of milk solids. Dark chocolate also tastes slightly bitter, as opposed to its cousin that tastes milky.

Does dark chocolate contain caffeine?

Yes. In fact, it contains more caffeine than regular milk chocolate. This is because of the high cocoa content in dark chocolate.

How much dark chocolate can you eat in a day?

You may want to stick to 1 to 2 ounces of dark chocolate per day. This can translate to 1 to 2 chocolate ‘squares’ in a dark chocolate bar.

Can you eat dark chocolate at night?

Yes, you can eat dark chocolate at night. There are no contraindications.

Is chocolate bad for the kidneys?

Chocolate usually contains potassium. If you have an advanced stage of kidney disease, check with your doctor before consuming chocolate as potassium could stress the kidneys. Otherwise, chocolate is not bad for the kidneys.

Does dark chocolate cause pimples/acne?

There is no research stating that chocolate may cause acne or pimples. A high-sugar or a high-fat diet may increase sebum production and the chances of acne. If you have acne, you may want to limit your intake of chocolate, among other foods that are high in sugar or fat.

Can dark chocolate cause weight gain?

If consumed in excess, it may add to your weight. Dark chocolate is high in calories. We suggest you stick to an ounce or less of dark chocolate a day.

Is dark chocolate good for babies?

Usually, yes, but in moderation. However, your baby may not like the bitter taste of dark chocolate.

26 sources

Stylecraze has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

  • Dark chocolate: an obesity paradox or a culprit for weight gain?, Phytotherapy Research, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24000103

  • Effects of dark chocolate in a population of Normal Weight Obese women: a pilot study, European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences.

    www.europeanreview.org/article/4958

  • Chocolate, dark, 70-85% cacao solids, FoodData Central, U. S. Department of Agriculture.

    fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170273/nutrients

  • Habitual chocolate consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease among healthy men and women, Heart, British Medical Journals.

    heart.bmj.com/content/11279-16-01

  • Chocolate Consumption is Inversely Associated with Prevalent Coronary Heart Disease: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study, Clinical Nutrition, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3039704/

  • Plasma LDL and HDL cholesterol and oxidized LDL concentrations are altered in normo- and hypercholesterolemic humans after intake of different levels of cocoa powder, The Journal of Nutrition, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17513403

  • Daily cocoa intake reduces the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein to oxidation as demonstrated in healthy human volunteers, Free Radical Research, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11235000

  • Dark chocolate (70% organic cacao) increases acute and chronic EEG power spectral density (μV2) response of gamma frequency (25–40 Hz) for brain health: enhancement of neuroplasticity, neural synchrony, cognitive processing, learning, memory, recall, and mindfulness meditation, The FASEB Journal.

    www.fasebj.org/doi/10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.878.10

  • Dark chocolate (70% cacao) effects human gene expression: Cacao regulates cellular immune response, neural signaling, and sensory perception, The FASEB Journal.

    www.fasebj.org/doi/10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.755.1

  • Benefits in cognitive function, blood pressure, and insulin resistance through cocoa flavanol consumption in elderly subjects with mild cognitive impairment: the Cocoa, Cognition, and Aging (CoCoA) study, Hypertension, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    LINK

  • The neuroprotective effects of cocoa flavanol and its influence on cognitive performance, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3575938/

  • The flavanol (-)-epicatechin prevents stroke damage through the Nrf2/HO1 pathway. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20442725

  • Effects of dark chocolate on azoxymethane-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci, Nutrition and Cancer, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23859035/

  • Preventive Effects of Cocoa and Cocoa Antioxidants in Colon Cancer, Diseases, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5456306/

  • Is Chocolate Good for You?, American Cancer Society.

    www.cancer.org/latest-news/is-chocolate-good-for-you.html

  • Cancer protective properties of cocoa: a review of the epidemiologic evidence, Nutrition and Cancer, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19838930

  • Use of dark chocolate for diabetic patients: a review of the literature and current evidence, Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5699188/

  • Effects of Milk vs Dark Chocolate Consumption on Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity Within 2 Hours, JAMA Ophthalmology.

    jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/article-abstract/2678792

  • The precise reason for the health benefits of dark chocolate: mystery solved, American Chemical Society.

    www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2014/march/the-precise-reason-for-the-health-benefits-of-dark-chocolate-mystery-solved.html

  • Prebiotic evaluation of cocoa-derived flavanols in healthy humans by using a randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover intervention study, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

    academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/93/1/62/4597700

  • Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Alopecia: A Comprehensive Review, Skin Appendage Disorders, Karger.

    www.karger.com/Article/FullText/492035

  • Procyanidin oligomers selectively and intensively promote proliferation of mouse hair epithelial cells in vitro and activate hair follicle growth in vivo, The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10084307

  • Caffeine Concentrations in Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, and Energy Drink Flavored E-liquids, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5568045/

  • Supraventricular tachycardia induced by chocolate: is chocolate too sweet for the heart?, The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21871761

  • Effects of Cocoa Antioxidants in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Antioxidants, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745494/

Preporučeno:

Zanimljivi članci
Snaga Shilajita: što Je To? Zašto To Ayurveda Preporučuje?
Opširnije

Snaga Shilajita: što Je To? Zašto To Ayurveda Preporučuje?

Hoćete li mi vjerovati ako vam kažem da se planine znoje? I da li vam znoj u planinama može poboljšati izdržljivost i seksualni život?Pa moraš! Shilajit zvan planinski znoj jedan je od najstarijih prirodnih lijekova za impotenciju. Pospje

Može Li Jesti Jabuku Na Dan Zadržati Liječnika Daleko?
Opširnije

Može Li Jesti Jabuku Na Dan Zadržati Liječnika Daleko?

Jabuke su najjeftiniji i najcjelovitiji izvori prehrane dostupni tijekom cijele godine. Oni su bogati antioksidansima, vitaminima, mineralima i vlaknima. Zbog toga njihovo jedenje može spriječiti kronične bolesti srca, mozga, gastrointestinalnog trakta, kostiju i očiju.P

6 Ozbiljnih Nuspojava Suhih šljiva Koje Morate Znati
Opširnije

6 Ozbiljnih Nuspojava Suhih šljiva Koje Morate Znati

Razmislite o suvim šljivama i prvo što vam padne na pamet je zatvor! Sok od suhe šljive često se koristi za liječenje zatvora u novorođenčadi i male djece, ali mogu ga koristiti i odrasli.Suhe šljive pripadaju obitelji šljiva i prodaju se uglavnom kao suho voće. Osim što