Yo friend!! whatcha doing?? nothing special happen this weekend but it's CHRISTMAS!! Yeah, i am so happy because i got so many present. The most i like is present from my foster brother, it's CHOCOLATE!! i got four bars of chocolate, my favourite chocolate flavour. Talking about chocolate, today my topic is Chocolate. Let's begin!!
Chocolate comes from a fruit called a pod that grows on the cacao
tree. A seedling tree generally must mature for five years before it
produces pods, with peak pod production happening at 10 years. A cocoa
tree can bear fruit and produce pods for 30 to 40 years. Each pod is
similar in size to a football, and contains up to 50 cocoa beans. To
make one ounce of milk chocolate, it takes 4 cocoa beans, and one ounce
of dark chocolate requires 12 beans. An average American or Canadian
will consume about 12 pounds of chocolate per year. However, the Swiss
are the world’s largest consumers of chocolate, eating about 22 pounds
of chocolate per person per year!
Chocolate Helps to Prevent “Bad” Cholesterol
Chocolate is rich in phenolics, the same heart protective
antioxidants found in wine. In fact, 1.5 ounces of chocolate -the
amount of a typical chocolate bar - has as many phenolitcs as a glass of
red wine. These chemicals help lower the risk of heart disease and
prevent clot-like substances from clogging arteries. Stearic acid, a saturated fat found in red meat and chocolate, does not
raise cholesterol levels compared to other saturated fats. Cells
treated with stearic acid, which are normally found in beef and
chocolate appear to cut the liver's output of fat and work to help pull
"bad" cholesterol out of the blood.
Chocolate is Low in Caffeine
Chocolate is comparatively low in caffeine. For example a one-ounce
piece of milk chocolate contains approximately 6 milligrams of caffeine,
while a five-ounce cup of decaffeinated brewed coffee contains 3
milligrams of caffeine, and a five-ounce cup of caffeinated instant
coffee contains 65 milligrams of caffeine. A five-ounce cup of brewed
coffee can have upto 115 milligrams of caffeine. Tea is also high in
caffeine - ranging from 30-60 milligrams for a five-ounce cup.
Another Reason for you to Enjoy Chocolate, guilt free
Dark chocolate has been identified has high in Oxygen Radical
Absorbance Capacity. ORAC is a method of measuring antioxidant capacity,
and has been applied to vegetables, spices, fruits and berries. There
is a high correlation between high antioxidant capacity and the
free-radical theory of aging - meaning foods high in ORAC help combat
the effects of aging due to free-radicals. In every 100g of dark
chocolate there are 13,120 ORAC, compared to 5938 in one cup of
strawberries or 13,427 in a cup of blueberries.
Chocolate Makes You Feel Great
Chocolate is part of a healthy, balanced diet and it makes you feel
great! A substance in chocolate called theobromine triggers the release
of endorphins, which are chemicals, produced by the brain, that act like
a natural antidepressant and can temporarily relieve the blues.Chocolate Helps You Live Longer
Research proves that candy eaters live almost a year longer than those who abstain.
Chocolate Helps You Live Longer
Research proves that candy eaters live almost a year longer than those who abstain.
Chocolate is Good for You
Research has confirmed that chocolate is a good source of the kind of
antioxidants found in tea. But actually, the antioxidant content of
chocolate is four times that of tea. Plus, the fat in chocolate can help
your immune system and it can also help outwit cytokines by reducing
your susceptibility to infections and inflammation.
Chocolate Won't Cause Acne
Scientists have concluded that pure chocolate won't cause acne.
Chocolate Can Aid in Whiter Teeth
A dark bar, with its high cocoa-to-sugar ratio, may actually discourage tooth decay and lead to fewer cavities and whiter teeth.
Ease a Cough With Chocolate
One of chocolate's active ingredients, Theobromine, suppresses
activity in the vagus nerve, which causes coughing. According to a study
published in a recent issue of The Federation of American Societies for
Experimental Biology journal, it was one-third more effective at
stopping a persistent cough than a placebo.
Suggested serving size: One 50-gram bar of dark chocolate or two cups
(500 mL) of hot cocoa (made with real cocoa, not hot chocolate mix) per
day.
That all from cici, enjoy your holiday .. Merry christmas and Happy New Year buddy.. See ya..
Resource from Purdy's
Picture taken from Chocolatier
