Chocolate is a product based on cocoa slid and/or cocoa fat. The amount and types of cocoa solids and fat that the term implies are a matter of controversy. Manufacturers have an incentive to use the term for variations that are cheaper to produce, containing less cocoa and cocoa substitutes, although these variations might not taste so good.
“Dark chocolate”, also called “plain chocolate” or “black chocolate”, is produced by adding fat and sugar to cocoa. It is chocolate with no or much less milk than milk chocolate. The U.S. has no official definition for dark chocolate can for dark chocolate but European rules specify a minimum of 35% cocoa solids. Dark chocolate can be eaten as is, or used in cooking, for which thicker, more expensive baking bars with higher cocoa percentages ranging from 70% to 99% are sold. Dark is synonymous with semisweet, and extra dark with bittersweet, although the ratio of cocoa butter to solids may vary.
Scientists found that small amounts of dark chocolate may improve health in a similar way to exercise.
The researchers focused on the mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses in cells that generate energy, and discovered that a plant compound found in chocolate, called epicatechin, appeared to stimulate the same muscle response as vigorous activity.
Dr Moh Malek, from Wayne State University in Detroit, who leds US study on mice, said: “Mitochondria produce energy which is used by the cells in the body. More mitochondria mean that more energy is produced.”
“Aerobic exercise, such as running or cycling, is known to increase the number of mitochondria in muscle cells. Our study has found that epicatechin seems to bring about the same response-particularly in the heart and skeletal muscles,” he said.
A specific type of epicatechin from cocoa was given to mice twice a day for 15days. At the same time, other animals underwent 30 minutes of treadmill training each day.
Researchers found that mice only fed epicatechin and had the same exercise performance as those running on the treadmill.
The scientists hope that their research will lead to better ways of combating age-related muscle wasting.
“The number of mitochondria decreases in skeletal muscle as we age, and this affects us physically in terms of both muscle energy production and endurance,” said Dr Malek. “Applying what we know about epicatechin`s ability may provide an approach to reduce the effects of muscle ageing.”
“It appears epicatechin treatment combined with exercised could be a viable means to offset muscle ageing,” said Dr Malek.
黑巧克力与健康
Dark chocolate contains healthy fats.
Cocoa butter, which is extracted from the cacao bean and incorporated into most reputable dark chocolate bars, is mostly monounsaturated and saturated fat, with very little polyunsaturated fat. And because most of that saturated fat is stearic acid, widely known for having neutral effects on LDL, even avowed lipophobes can happily and whatever else your annoying friend who always falls for multilevel marketing schemes is hawking this week. The most studied polyphenol consumption centered on pigment-derived antioxidants, cacao`s polyphenols are also quite potent and potentially healthful.
What happens when the rubber hits the road, though? Or, somewhat more literally, what happens when the square of polyphenal-rich dark chocolate melts on the tongue, is swallowed, digested, and incorporated into the body? What are the actual health benefits of consuming high-cocoa content dark chocolate?
Dark chocolate and fatty liver.
Rats with fatty liver evince higher levels of oxidative stress and inflammation, but cocoa supplementation partially attenuated these pathological changes-even in choline-deficient rats. While cocoa wasn`t enough to fully resolve fatty liver, the researchers concluded that cocoa may be of therapeutic benefit in “less severe” forms of fatty liver.
黑巧克力能提高大脑内一种叫做“塞洛托宁”的化学物质的水平，给人们带来安宁的感觉，从而起到消除紧张情绪，缓解压力的作用。其含有的儿茶酸与茶中的含量一样多，而儿茶酸能增强免疫力，预防癌症，干扰肿瘤的供血。而且，黑巧克力还是一种抗氧化食品，对延缓衰老有一定功效。够神奇吧？
Something about Chocolate 关于巧克力的知识
Although chocolate contains fermentable carbohydrates, but many of the dental research show that chocolate may not be as traditional as that resulting in dental caries rotten.
虽然巧克力包含可以发酵的碳水化合物，但许多牙科研究表明，巧克力可能并不像传统认为的那样容易使牙齿龋齿。
Chocolate can provide a lot of minerals and nutrients that can meet the basic needs of the human body, which will help improve the fitness effects of sports and exercise.
巧克力还能提供很多满足人体基本需求的矿物质和营养素，有利于提高运动和锻炼的健身效果。
Chocolate plays an important role in sports, for given the unique element of charm chocolate is the polyphenols.
巧克力对于运动有着举足轻重的作用，而赋予巧克力独特魅力的成分局势多酚。
The flavonoid in dark chocolate also has the role of regulating immunity.
黑巧克力中的类黄酮物质也有具有调节免疫力的作用。
Everyone knows that chocolate is good for you, although unfortunately the dark and bitter kind is better for you than the sweet milky kind.
众所周知巧克力对人体是有益的，但是不幸的是，味苦的巧克力会比香甜的牛奶巧克力营养价值更高一些。
Raw chocolate-the unrefined fruit if the cacao tree, without added sugar, milk or vegetable fat-is nutritionally superior to even the highest quality dark chocolate.
未加工的巧克力-未提纯的可可树果实，没有添加糖、牛奶、植物油——比任何高纯度的黑巧克力都有营养。
Nutrition experts agree that dark chocolate deserves a place in healthy diets. High doses of cocoa support T-helper cells, which increase the immune system`s ability to defend against infection.
营养专家们认可巧克力在健康饮食中占据一席之地。大剂量的可可能够维持辅助型T细胞活性，从而提高免疫系统抵御感染的能力。
