It can increase the heartbeat from the standard 60 beats per minute at rest to 140, and melting chocolate in the tongue causes a feeling more intense and prolonged than a passionate kiss. Today it is known that chocolate thanks to the content of phenylethylamine (a substance having a stimulating effect) promotes the production of endorphins - compounds that are responsible for obtaining pleasure. However, it can not be said that chocolate has a strong stimulating effect, it only gives us feelings similar to the state of being in love: emotional recovery, joy, a state of euphoria. What other influence comes from chocolate, find out in the article on the topic "Chocolate, negative effects on the body."
From him get fat
Experts confirm this fear. Does this mean that chocolate should be discarded by those who want to lose weight? Not at all. No product, including chocolate, in itself is not harmful.
Women especially love chocolate
It is a myth. Some women tend to think of chocolate as "food taboo." They are especially attracted to chocolate when they feel unwell or upset: after all, in a normal situation, they think they do not have the right to afford it. During the study, Zellner found out that in Spain, in the culture of which chocolate is not traditionally considered a forbidden fruit, women treat him more calmly than US women, where rather radical views on healthy food and so-called "unacceptable" foods are popular.
It causes dependence
Although the "chocoholic" will not be difficult to go to the other end of the city for your favorite sweets, in fact, chocolate can not be called a drug. American biochemist Daniel Piomelli (Daniele Piomelli) together with colleagues proved that chocolate contains such a stimulating receptor of the brain substance, kakanandamid. He acts like marijuana - causes a short-term state of bliss, reduces pain. However, scientists found that in chocolate this substance is too small to cause addiction. In addition, it is split in our body by gastric acid and does not even reach the bloodstream. Thus, speech can only go about psychological dependence, but not physiological. By the way, chocolate is not loved by all ... In Russian spa salons, they appeared almost ten years ago and still have not lost their popularity. Various cosmetic procedures using cocoa products are not only pleasant, but also very useful.
They can have regular food chocolate (with a cocoa content of at least 50%) with the addition of different ingredients depending on the purpose of the procedure. Cocoa butter gives a wonderful cosmetic effect: softens, moisturizes the skin, removes irritation. It also has regenerating properties, therefore such procedures are recommended, including for fading skin. If we are talking about the correction of the figure, then ideally wraps or massages of problem areas are ideal, since the caffeine contained in chocolate has a strong anti-cellulite effect. " Chocolate treatments have a beneficial effect not only on our appearance: due to the synthesis of serotonin and theobromine, which occurs in our body even with external application of chocolate, they have an anti-stress effect. You can deliver yourself such pleasure in the home. Take 50 g of bitter chocolate, melt it in a water bath, add a teaspoon of olive or peach oil and cool a little. And then for 10-15 minutes, apply to the face, neck and décolleté zone. This will give a wonderful mitigating effect.
Chocolate spoils the skin
It is a myth. We often hear that chocolate provokes acne, but no evidence base, why it might occur, does not exist. Acne can be caused by diseases of internal organs, stresses, changes in the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract, but a small amount of chocolate can not cause rashes. However, like sharp sauces or fatty foods that overload the pancreas, chocolate can aggravate these processes in those who are prone to acne in principle.
It causes allergies
Although the rejection of this product is supposed to be a classic hypoallergenic diet, most often the allergy is manifested not in the chocolate itself, but in those components that are part of the chocolate products. Contrary to popular belief, an allergy to the cocoa beans themselves is extremely rare. The main cause of allergic reactions to chocolate are those components that can be present in it: soy, milk, corn syrup, nuts, flavors and dyes.
Chocolate is a source of antioxidants
Indeed, cocoa contains a lot of substances that have antioxidant properties. The main ones are isoflavonoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and in addition, antioxidant vitamins E and C. For comparison: in the dark chocolate lobe contains the same amount of flavonoids as in 6 apples, 4.5 cups of black tea or 2 glasses of dry red of wine. Scientists came to the conclusion that people who eat chocolate live on average a year longer than those who deny themselves this pleasure.
It helps to restore strength
This is true, and it's not just that there is a neurostimulator phenylethylamine in it. Cocoa beans contain caffeine and theobromine - strong stimulating substances. That's why it is not recommended for children under three years old and for older people. For the same reason, it is worth carefully combining chocolate in your diet with caffeine-containing foods - energy drinks, cola, tea, some medicines. The ability of bitter chocolate to reduce the signs of chronic fatigue syndrome was confirmed by a study conducted by Steve Atkin, a professor at the Hull and York School of Medicine in the UK: patients felt less fatigue when using bitter chocolate with a high cocoa content than white or milk. In addition, even the smell of chocolate contributes to the production of serotonin - the so-called "happiness hormone". It is known that acute negative reactions have a bad effect on the cardiovascular and nervous system, so serotonin protects our body from stress and its consequences. Now we know what chocolate can be, the negative impact on the body of this product.