Chocolate!!

OMG DID YOU KNOW?
Chocolate is actually GOOD for you!!!!

Here is the shocking revelation summarized from Wikipedia which looked up for my English oral test...

Health-related effects of Chocolate Consumption

While chocolate is regularly eaten for pleasure, there are potential beneficial health effects of eating chocolate that many of us do not know of.

First of all, chocolate contains alkaloids such as theobromine, tryptophan and phenethylamine, which have physiological effects on the body. It has been linked to serotonin levels in the brain which plays an important role as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. It also contains anandamide which is an endogenous cannabinoid which is also naturally produced in the human brain that aids working memory and elevates mood.
[Oh yeah, eat chocolate to study better!! Is that why Daniel Chong is so damn smart? He eats chocolate like we eat rice!!]

Scientists claim that chocolate, eaten in moderation, can lower blood pressure. Some studies have observed a modest reduction in blood pressure and flow-mediated dilation after consuming dark chocolate daily. Dark chocolate, with its high cocoa content, is a rich source of the flavonoids epicatechin and gallic acid, which are thought to possess cardioprotective properties. Dark chocolate has also been said to reduce the possibility of a heart attack when consumed regularly in small amounts.
[Wow, eat chocolate for good heart? That is a must-read for the, ermm, more prosperous people...]

One-third of the fat in chocolate comes in the forms of a saturated fat called stearic acid and a monounsaturated fat called oleic acid. However, unlike other saturated fats, stearic acid does not raise levels of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream. Consuming relatively large amounts of dark chocolate and cocoa does not seem to raise serum LDL cholesterol levels; some studies even find that it could lower them. Indeed, small but regular amounts of dark chocolate lower the possibility of a heart attack, a result of cholesterol imbalance according to the lipid hypothesis.

Dark chocolate has recently been promoted for its health benefits, including a substantial amount of antioxidants that reduce the formation of free radicals and thus prevent cancer. This is because cocoa possesses a significant antioxidant action, protecting against LDL oxidation, perhaps more than other polyphenol antioxidant-rich foods and beverages.
[Chocolate to prevent cancer?! A medical breakthrough!! Must eat more lahh!!]

Other research indicates that chocolate may be effective at preventing persistent coughing. The ingredient theobromine was found to be almost one third more effective than codeine, the leading cough medicine. The chocolate also appears to soothe and moisten the throat. In addition, chocolate contains flavonoids that can inhibit the development of diarrhoea, suggesting anti-diarrhoeal effects of chocolate.
[Wow, the versatility of the amazing chocolate - treatment for everything!!]

However, chocolate is not completely blameless and may have negative effects to health. The major concern that nutritionists have is that even though eating dark chocolate may favorably affect certain biomarkers of cardiovascular disease, the amount needed to have this effect would provide a relatively large quantity of calories, which, if unused, would promote weight gain. Obesity is a significant risk factor for many diseases, including cardiovascular disease. As a consequence, consuming large quantities of dark chocolate in an attempt to protect against cardiovascular disease may bring more harm than good.
[Oh darn]

There is a popular belief that the consumption of chocolate can cause acne. Various studies seem to show that this is the case for high glycemic index foods in general, though the question is still being studied. Milk is known to cause acne, including any which is mixed with chocolate.
[That explains my annoying pimples]

Chocolate has one of the higher concentrations of lead among products that constitute an average person’s diet, with a potential to cause mild lead poisoning. While studies show that the lead consumed in chocolate may not all be absorbed by the human body, there is no known threshold for the effects of lead on children's brain function and even small quantities of lead can cause permanent neurodevelopmental deficits including impaired IQ.
[ohemgee it's that bad?? o.O]

In conclusion, chocolate is not only pleasurable to the taste buds but also have advantageous qualities. Nevertheless its detrimental effects must also be taken into account, thus we must eat it in moderation to reap its benefits and not its harmful effects.
[And you should buy more for me because it's gooooooood!!]