If you’re an admirer of chocolate then you’re in good company. Chocolates are one of the most popular sweet-tasting treats in the world and it has been for centuries.

A magnificently wrapped box of chocolates has always been considered a very romantic gift. So if the special person in your life is a self-confessed chocoholic, you know one guaranteed way to please them on special occasions. But the surprising news from the scientific community is that this reputedly decadent treat actually has some health benefits, especially if you choose you’re chocolate wisely.

Chocolates contain over 300 chemicals, and have been the subject of a number of studies by universities and other scientific organizations. Here’s a quick countdown of the results. We have no way of proving or disproving these claims so we offer them here as an incentive for further research. If you’re really involved in the subject, this may provide you with an opening point.

* Cacao, the source of chocolate, containing antibacterial agents that struggle tooth decay. Of course, this is counteracted by the high sugar content of milk chocolates.

* The smell of chocolate may raise theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.

* Chocolate holds phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator.

* The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which may increase good cholesterol.

* Drinking a cup of hot chocolate before meals may really diminish appetite.

* People who eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don’t.

* The flavanoids in chocolate may help you to keep blood vessels elastic.

* Chocolates increases antioxidant levels in the blood.

* Mexican healers use chocolates to treat bronchitis and insect bites.

* The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, ensuing in a sense of well-being.

There are many legends and half-truths about the effects of chocolate on the human body. Here are the latest findings on of them.

* Scientific studies show that chocolate is not a causative factor in acne.

* Cacao contains the stimulants caffeine and bromine, but in such small quantities that they don’t cause nervous excitability.

* Chocolate contains stearic acid, a neutral fat which doesn’t raise bad cholesterol.

Tags: Chocolates

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 3:03 pm and is filed under Chocolates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.