Love chocolate

Published by Manila Bulletin, September 16, 2014

I grew up associating chocolate with the expression of love. Blame it on the chocolates selling like hotcakes during Valentine’s day. A book suggested that this connection started with Emperor Montezuma who drank 50 golden cups of chocolate every day as an aphrodisiac before going to his wives. Could there be a scientific explanation for this?

16ChocolateResearch studies have shown that chocolate goes beyond matters of the heart to health. It contains flavanols which are phytonutrients derived from plants. You see, chocolates are plant-based and can be eaten by vegans or vegetarians. The flavanols act as antioxidants that fight off free radicals. Think of free radicals as highly charged molecules that damage cells in the body. The flavanols block the damaging effects of free radicals by neutralizing them. Put more simply, free radicals are like terrorists in our body and the flavanols are the soldiers that protect our body cells from the terrorist attacks. Free radicals have been linked to cancer and other diseases.

Flavanols improve blood pressure and enhances blood circulation by preventing platelets (blood cells) from clumping together and becoming sticky which could block the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients in the body. This blood flow enhancing effect may have been the basis for Emperor Montezuma’s ritual of drinking rich chocolate before lovemaking after all.

By promoting blood flow, flavanols also enhance brain function. In 2006, Harvard University did a study among elderly subjects on the effect of daily consumption of 900 mg of flavanols for one week. Results showed an increase in blood flow to the brain. Patients with dementia have decreased brain blood flow therefore flavonols may be potentially beneficial in reducing the risk of dementia.

Flavanols also play a great role in keeping the immune system healthy by suppressing compounds that causes inflammation. An inflammation causes an immune response and too much of which are responsible for arthritis, heart diseases and autoimmune diseases like Type I Diabetes Mellitus. Instead of protecting the body, the immune system attacks the healthy cells.

Despite the many health benefits of chocolates, be mindful of the amount that you eat. After all, chocolates contain calories, sugar and fat. Portion control is key!

If you want to know more about the benefits of chocolates and how to make them, fulfill your chocolate dreams at The Chocolatier hands on workshop by A-List Professional Health Consulting Co which will be held on September 28, 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at The Den, Marriott Manila. Call 586 3194 or email a.list.prohealth@gmail.com for inquiries and reservations. Limited slots available.