Dark chocolate not only protects your heart, but also reduces the risk of stroke! Nutritionist Zhao Hanying: 4 must-know benefits of chocolate

Chocolate is popular among girls because of its smooth and delicate texture and bittersweet taste. Girls will especially eat some chocolate to relieve menstrual cramps or when they are in a bad mood to relieve the pain and irritability. But do you know? Not only women love chocolate, men are also very suitable for eating chocolate. Nutritionist Zhao Hanying said that according to research and development in the United States, men who eat chocolate (especially dark chocolate) can reduce the risk of stroke. Now let's take a look at the four major health benefits of chocolate.

A report published in the journal Neurology suggests that men who eat moderate amounts of chocolate may have a lower risk of various types of stroke. The most crucial factor is that chocolate contains natural phytonutrients called "cocoa flavanols" that are beneficial to heart health.

What are cocoa flavanols? Nutritionist Zhao Hanying said that flavanols are a kind of natural phytonutrients found in cocoa, tea, red wine, fruits and vegetables. The highest content of them is in cocoa, so cocoa beans can also be called the most amazing "super fruit" in nature.

4 benefits of chocolate

Benefit 1: Reduced risk of heart disease and stroke

A study by Cambridge University shows that eating chocolate regularly can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by 1/3. A recent Australian scientific study pointed out that consuming dark chocolate every day for 10 consecutive years can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke in some high-risk patients. Some scientists have also discovered that eating chocolate can also lower blood pressure.

Benefit 2: Preventing dementia in the elderly

Harvard Medical School in the United States once conducted a test on a group of elderly people and found that the antioxidant flavanols in chocolate can improve the brain and blood vessels, accelerate blood flow to the brain, help activate the elderly's brain blood vessels, maintain memory, and prevent Alzheimer's disease.

A study in the United States pointed out that people who eat chocolate several times a week weigh less than those who hardly eat chocolate.

Benefit 3: Weight loss effect

In addition, for middle-aged obese men, eating the right cocoa can have a weight-loss effect. Studies have shown that drinking a cup of hot cocoa in the morning can increase the body's metabolic rate by 10-15%. In other words, within 3 hours after drinking hot cocoa, the body can consume 30 calories more per hour than usual without drinking cocoa. A study in the United States pointed out that people who eat chocolate several times a week weigh less than those who hardly eat chocolate. Cocoa also contains "lignin", a substance that is favored by probiotics in the body. It helps regulate the intestines and facilitates bowel movements.

Benefit 4: Chocolate adds milk to supplement calcium

Adding milk to chocolate can also supplement calcium, because milk contains a lot of calcium, which combines with the glucose calcium in chocolate to form easily absorbed lactose calcium and calcium lactate, thus achieving the effect of calcium supplementation. If middle-aged men do not pay attention to calcium supplementation on a daily basis, bone calcium loss will accelerate, and it will be very difficult to learn how to supplement calcium at that time.

[Nutritionist's Tips]:

Nutritionist Zhao Hanying said that one cup of hot cocoa, about 375 ml, has about 180 calories. Assuming you drink two cups a day, it will reach 360 calories. Two cups of hot chocolate a day is appropriate. If you drink too much, you are still worried about consuming too many calories and may be at risk of obesity.

In addition to drinking hot cocoa alone, you can also mix it with milk or other beverages to drink. For middle-aged men who work very hard, it can improve blood circulation, effectively prevent cardiovascular diseases, and avoid strokes. In addition, you should maintain a balanced diet and regular exercise to avoid the hidden dangers of diseases caused by the midlife crisis.

👉Recommended reading: Can eating chocolate relieve menstrual cramps? Eating the wrong food is even worse! Nutritionist reveals: 5 dietary tips to get rid of menstrual discomfort

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