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The Student News Website of Susquehannock High School,   Glen Rock, Pennsylvania.

SHS Courier

The Student News Website of Susquehannock High School,   Glen Rock, Pennsylvania.

SHS Courier

Great news for ‘chocoholics’: Chocolate as a health boost

 

Picture by Fir0002/Flagstaffotos.

Many people feel guilty after indulging in chocolate. Don’t; chocolate is healthy in many ways.
Most chocoholics enjoy milk chocolate. Unfortunately for milk-chocolate lovers, dark chocolate is the healthiest.
There are many health benefits to eating a dark chocolate bar.
According to  MSN reporter Mara Betsch, dark chocolate has antioxidants that help lower chances for cardiovascular diseases. It also lowers blood pressure and increases blood flow with the flavanols in the cocoa.
This means that when one is older, he or she will have a healthy heart and will be able to exercise regularly.
Chocolate has a bad reputation for having a high sugar content. However, the higher the cocoa percentage is (essentially the darker the chocolate is), the less sugar is in the chocolate. That means that one’s blood sugar will not rise after eating the tasty treat.
High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), or “good cholesterol,” is also in chocolate. By increasing the HDL, the Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad cholesterol,” will decrease. The good cholesterol will lower someone’s chances of having heart problems.
Not only will one stay healthy, but he or she will also feel good after eating it.
Cocoa releases endorphins, which are naturally occurring drugs in the human body that leave people cheerful.
Cooking teacher  Mary Tombesi is one of many that eat chocolate when in need of a pick-me-up.
“It’s gotten me through many tough times. It’s definitely addictive,” Tombesi said.
Endorphins are the same drugs that are released during exercise. One could eat chocolate instead and get that same good feeling. Still, chocolate will not help someone lose weight like exercise will.
Although chocolate is beneficial in many ways, like every other indulgence, it is best when eaten in moderation because chocolate has a high fat content.
According to Nutrition Data, in a full bar of chocolate, there are 13 grams of fat. That means hours and hours of exercise in order to cancel it out.
In addition, it is well known among teens that the sugar in chocolate possibly causes acne.
However, if one eats a small amount, like a miniature bar, then good health can still be maintained.
In addition to the proven benefits of chocolate, there are rumors that are currently being tested by researchers: some claim that chocolate helps improve test scores.
It is proven that the caffeine in chocolate stimulates brain activity, but it is not proven that it actually improves one’s score.
It is possible, however, that the caffeine wakes one up, obviously improving his or her grades.

Picture by Tom Morris.

Chocolate is often used in the kitchen to add a unique flavor and sweetness.
Tombesi prefers bittersweet chocolate.
“It’s a higher quality of chocolate and that means it’s even healthier,” said Tombesi.
There are many recipes that have chocolate listed as one of their ingredients. Everyone knows that chocolate can be used in brownies, cookies, and cakes.
Tombesi, however, also uses chocolate in her chili, which is one of the oddest places to find chocolate. It can add depth to the usual chili flavor.
There are many perks to chocolate and even more are being discovered every day by researchers. There are plenty of reasons to munch on one of the world’s favorite treats!
Sources:
http://recipefinder.msn.co.nz/article/foodnews/8613702/more-evidence-dark-chocolate-is-healthy
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/sweets/5429/2

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Great news for ‘chocoholics’: Chocolate as a health boost