The Link Between Chocolate And Digestion

By Catalina Nielsen


People all over the world love eating chocolates but not many are aware that there can be significant health benefits gained from eating them. Looking into the question of chocolate and digestion, it becomes obvious that the ingredients used in the manufacture of the chocolates have a large part to play. Many producers manufacturing chocolates today take health considerations very seriously. Dark organic chocolate has by far the most significant health and digestive benefits.

The use of organic ingredients means that they are cultivated without using pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, ionizing radiation or genetically modified organisms. The cocoa beans usually come from West African countries where the humid tropical climate and regular rainfall are particularly suited to their cultivation. The more cocoa mass found in a product, the more benefits there are for health.

Cocoa beans contain polyphenols with antioxidant properties. These antioxidant flavonoids reduce the risk of blood clotting and this helps prevent heart attacks and strokes. Cocoa can increase the serotonin level in the brain. This is probably why people suffering from depression or PMS often reach for chocolates.

Cocoa beans contain many vitamins and minerals that help boost energy levels and keep the immune system functioning at its best. For example, they are an important source of magnesium. Magnesium has many benefits such as helping to maintain a healthy heartbeat as well as contributing to energy production and stabilizing the functioning of other minerals like zinc, iron and potassium.

The percentage of cocoa contained in a product is found on the wrapper. The higher the percentage, the better the health benefits. It is the other ingredients used in chocolates that cause all the problems, such as fillers high in calories and large quantities of sugar. Many manufacturers are turning to unrefined cane sugar or not using sugar at all in their products. However, taste is also important and in order to deal with the bitterness, other ingredients like fruits and vanilla may be added.

Sugar is added to many products and this can be a problem for those trying to lose weight and for those who prefer not to eat sugar at all. Other products such as unrefined cane sugar is being used increasingly by manufacturers. Vanilla, fruit, nuts and herbs are also being added to improve the bitter flavor of the cocoa. These products often have a subtle intensity of flavor that people grow to prefer to chocolates that are too sweet.

People with digestive conditions like celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome should be very careful when it comes to chocolates and should preferably avoid them. However, most people with healthy digestive systems have no problem when it comes to eating chocolates and in fact it helps their digestion. The reason for this is that the dietary fiber in the cocoa mass helps with the digestive process. It stimulates the intestinal movements which helps to keep the walls of the stomach and intestine clean.

When it comes to chocolate and digestion, there is no question that eating it can be beneficial, depending on the quality and type of product chosen. Manufacturers are catering more and more to the demands of discerning customers who want to eat chocolates that benefit their health without all the added fillers, sugars and other harmful ingredients.




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