photo credits: April Ethyl Fernando
If you're like most women, you're totally smitten with
chocolate. People have been obsessing over this comfort food for thousands of years. And all that
obsessing has yielded some pretty surprising studies--and findings. Here, five
things you need to know about your favorite indulgence.
It Can Boost Your Workout
Skip the expensive sports drinks and protein shakes.
Research shows chocolate milk is just as effective a recovery aid.
A study compared the effects of a recovery drink and
chocolate milk on endurance athletes' ability to recover after a series of bike
sprints followed by an endurance ride the next day. They found that chocolate
milk was just as effective at relieving muscle soreness after the sprints, and
preparing the athletes to perform in the endurance test the next day. Better
yet, everyone preferred the taste of chocolate milk.
Your Period Doesn't Make You Crave It
Women experience chocolate cravings. Of those of who do,
about half crave it right around "that" time of the month.
And while it's nice to have your menstrual cycle to blame
when you find yourself noshing on half a package of chocolate chip cookies,
researchers found that menstrual hormones aren't the culprit. They compared the
cravings of pre- and post-menopausal women and didn't find any change. They
did, however, find a higher prevalence of cravings among women who suffer from
PMS.
It Won't Wake You Up
It's a common misconception that chocolate is packed with
caffeine. In reality, the amount of caffeine in chocolate is miniscule
compared to what's in your other daily pick-me-ups. An ounce of dark chocolate
contains about 20 milligrams of caffeine, while an ounce of milk chocolate
contains about 5 milligrams--the same as an 8-ounce cup of decaf coffee. In
comparison, a cup of coffee contains about 100 milligrams and a cup of tea
contains about 50 milligrams of caffeine.
It Contains
Flavonoids
Flavowhats? Flavonoids are a type of phytochemical, or plant
chemical, that are found naturally in chocolate. Due to their unique chemical
structures, flavonoids can exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
cell-protective effects. To reap the benefits, stick to dark chocolate. The
average commercial dark chocolate contains about 60 percent cocao and has been
found to contain 536 milligrams of flavonoids per 1.4-ounce serving. Research
has shown that as few as 80 milligrams of flavonoids a day can lower blood
pressure.
It's Not All Bad for
Your Teeth
How could a food that's long been touted as a cavity-causer
actually have teeth-protecting properties? It turns out that theobromine, an
organic molecule that occurs naturally in cocoa, can help strengthen tooth
enamel.
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