We love chocolate for its great taste, but we do not have an idea as chocolate is also a medicine. Cocoa tree is also a key medicinal herb and its scientific name is Theobroma cacao.
In ancient times, MesoAmericans treated chocolate ‘food of Gods’ as they believed drinking chocolate will give spiritual powers and mood increasing capabilities. Chocolate also has antioxidants that can improve our heart health, control blood pressure and reduce cholesterol in addition it has anti-inflammatory properties.
Let’s know how far the Cocoa tree provides the medicinal properties …
Studies found that chocolate has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects from polyphenol compounds that work for maintenance of good heart health by lowering the oxidation of low density lipoprotein. This can reduce the risk of heart stroke. Oleic acid, stearic and palmitic acids in chocolate also help in betterment of heart health. For all these benefits, we need to take chocolate with 70% cocoa, not of sugary chocolate. Then we can have the real benefits of polyphenols in chocolate.
And when it comes to precautionary measures, caffeine in chocolate can disturb our sleep, if we eat before bedtime. Also it has high calories, eating too much may not be good for us.
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