Benefits of dark CHOCOLATE

 While chocolate is regularly eaten for pleasure, there are potential beneficial health effects of eating chocolate. Here are the latest findings on several of them.
A study reported by the BBC indicated that melting chocolate in one's mouth produced an increase in brain activity and heart rate that was more intense than that associated with passionate kissing, and also lasted four times as long after the activity had ended

Here are the latest findings on several of them.

• Cacao, the source of chocolate, contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. Of course, this is counteracted by the high sugar content of milk chocolate.
• The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.
• Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a mild mood elevator.
• The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which may raise good cholesterol.
• Drinking a cup of hot chocolate before meals may actually diminish appetite.
• Men who eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don't.
• The flavanoids in chocolate may help keep blood vessels elastic.
• Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.
• Mexican healers use chocolate to treat bronchitis and insect bites.
• The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.

What Chocolate Won't Do

• Studies show that chocolate is not a causative factor in acne.
• Cacao contains the stimulants caffeine and bromine, but in such small quantities that they don't cause nervous excitability.
• Chocolate is not addictive.
• Chocolate contains stearic acid, a neutral fat which doesn't raise bad cholesterol.
• Chocolate doesn't make you 'high'. You'd need to eat a huge quantity (about 25 pounds at one sitting) to feel any noticeable effect.

What About Chocolate And Your Pets?
Chocolate is considered dangerous to animals because it contains a stimulant called theobromine, which they can't digest.

Dark Chocolate Versus Milk Chocolate

• Dark chocolate contains more cacao and less sugar than milk chocolate. It follows that any health benefits would be more pronounced in dark chocolate.
• Dark chocolate is allowed on the popular Montaignac diet while milk chocolate is not.

• Dark chocolate: sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa liquor, and (sometimes) vanilla
• Milk chocolate: sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa liquor, milk or milk powder, and vanilla
• White chocolate: sugar, cocoa butter, milk or milk powder, and vanilla