Most people love the taste of chocolates. The good news is that current research reveals that they can actually be good for you. Of course, this is not true of all products and it depends greatly on the ingredients used. Knowing about chocolate and digestion is important in choosing products that are of benefit to your health.
Organic ingredients only earn their certification if they are grown without resorting to use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms or ionizing radiation. Cocoa beans are mostly grown in tropical climates like West Africa, where conditions are humid and rainfall is regular. The more cocoa mass contained in a product, the greater the health benefits.
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 are rich in many essential vitamins and minerals. They contain vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and E. The minerals they contain include calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper and zinc. All of these are vital to proper functioning of all the bodily systems.
On the wrapper of the bar, a percentage is displayed. This shows the amount of ingredients in a bar that actually come from the cocoa bean. It is the other added ingredients that can cause digestive problems. For example, lactose is a complex sugar found in milk and it needs to be broken down by lactase, a digestive enzyme, for it to be absorbed. If someone is deficient in lactase, they are considered lactose intolerant and can suffer from bloating, gas, abdominal pain and diarrhea when eating dairy products. There are products being manufactured today that are dairy free such as those using dairy-free substitutes like coconut milk.
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.
Another group of individuals who have to take extreme care with what they eat are those who suffer from digestive conditions. These conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome or celiac disease can be aggravated by eating chocolates. Someone who is sensitive to caffeine also needs to be aware that a certain amount of caffeine is found in these beans. Those with food allergies are another group that need to be wary of ingredients like nuts that may be contained in these products.
For someone with none of these problems, there is no question that the dietary fiber found in cocoa beans is beneficial to the digestive process. With the issues regarding chocolate and digestion being raised, more manufacturers are carefully choosing the ingredients they use. Many of the healthiest products are available from online stores.
Organic ingredients only earn their certification if they are grown without resorting to use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms or ionizing radiation. Cocoa beans are mostly grown in tropical climates like West Africa, where conditions are humid and rainfall is regular. The more cocoa mass contained in a product, the greater the health benefits.
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 are rich in many essential vitamins and minerals. They contain vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and E. The minerals they contain include calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper and zinc. All of these are vital to proper functioning of all the bodily systems.
On the wrapper of the bar, a percentage is displayed. This shows the amount of ingredients in a bar that actually come from the cocoa bean. It is the other added ingredients that can cause digestive problems. For example, lactose is a complex sugar found in milk and it needs to be broken down by lactase, a digestive enzyme, for it to be absorbed. If someone is deficient in lactase, they are considered lactose intolerant and can suffer from bloating, gas, abdominal pain and diarrhea when eating dairy products. There are products being manufactured today that are dairy free such as those using dairy-free substitutes like coconut milk.
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.
Another group of individuals who have to take extreme care with what they eat are those who suffer from digestive conditions. These conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome or celiac disease can be aggravated by eating chocolates. Someone who is sensitive to caffeine also needs to be aware that a certain amount of caffeine is found in these beans. Those with food allergies are another group that need to be wary of ingredients like nuts that may be contained in these products.
For someone with none of these problems, there is no question that the dietary fiber found in cocoa beans is beneficial to the digestive process. With the issues regarding chocolate and digestion being raised, more manufacturers are carefully choosing the ingredients they use. Many of the healthiest products are available from online stores.
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