There is no denying that chocolate makes life more enjoyable. The origins of chocolate date back to the Mayans and Aztecs and this delicious food has been enjoyed worldwide for over 4000 years. Unlike the sickly-sweet versions available today with too much added sugar the original version was consumed in a drink form.
The plant which provides the cocoa beans is called the Theobroma cocoa tree. This tree is found growing in the tropics. Cocoa beans were originally collected, fermented, roasted, dried in the sun, and then ground into a paste. This paste was combined with a combination of honey, spices, vanilla, and water to make the final, delicious drink.
Cocoa is not only a mood enhancer but also contains nutrition benefits for your body. This includes phytochemicals or plant-based chemicals which have health benefits for your body. One main type of phytochemical found in cocoa are flavonoids which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants help to fight off free radicals which can cause damage and disease to the cells of your body.
The good news for your body’s health does not end there and research has found cocoa can also help your cholesterol levels to be healthier. It does this by preventing the ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol from oxidising which is the chemical process which makes this type of cholesterol most harmful for your body. Oxidised LDL can lead to atherosclerosis when it is taken up onto the walls of your arteries causing plagues.
The list of reasons to enjoy chocolate continues. Research suggests that dark chocolate with 85% cocoa solids can act as a prebiotic fuel for the health promoting bacteria in your gut. Participants consumed 30g of 85% dark chocolate daily for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks the participants showed an increase in the health promoting bacteria, specifically, the types of microbes which promote a good mood.
Take home message: Chocolate can be a healthy addition to an overall balanced diet. Aim to select chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids. Your taste buds and body will be happy you made the choice.
Reference:
- Shin J, Kim C, Cha Kim S, Lee S, Chae S et al. Consumption of 85% cocoa dairy chocolate improves mood in association with gut microbial changes in healthy adults: a randomized control trial. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 2022;99:108854.
