Why you shouldn't give up chocolate

After the holidays, we usually begin to lose weight, give up all unhealthy foods and switch to low-fat kefir. First on the forbidden list are sweets and chocolate. But maybe we shouldn’t be in such a hurry? Why you shouldn’t give up chocolate - read our material!

Chocolate can be used to make more than just desserts. For example, it goes well with meat and poultry. We have made a selection of non-standard chocolate dishes for you.

It’s worth noting right away that only dark chocolate with a high content of cocoa beans is considered healthy. Milk, white and chocolate with fillings are indulgences that have nothing to do with the beneficial properties that we will tell you about.

What to eat to avoid aging

Chocolate is made from beans of the cocoa tree, its homeland is South America. It contains a large amount of cocoa butter and cocoa mass, vanillin and lecithin. It contains riboflavin, thiamine, vitamins PP, E, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, potassium and phosphorus and many other useful components.

Health Benefits:

1. Tannin in chocolate regulates the functioning of the digestive system, promotes the removal of toxins from the body, and has a laxative effect.

2. Potassium and magnesium stimulate the muscular and nervous systems.

3. Glucose increases performance and improves brain activity.

4. Phenols have a beneficial effect on the walls of blood vessels, promote more efficient blood flow, reducing the load on the heart, and prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in the blood, narrowing of blood vessels and the formation of blood clots.

5. Theobromine and caffeine, contained in large quantities in dark chocolate, increase the body's resistance to stress and have a tonic effect.

6. Chocolate is an excellent antidepressant; it contains the substance phenylethylamine, which stimulates the activity of nerve cells, as a result of which a person’s mood improves.

Chocolate also contains a large number of beauty benefits:

1. Caffeine (an antioxidant) has an excellent tonic and rejuvenating effect on dull, tired skin.

2. Theobromine activates various biochemical processes occurring in skin cells (including the production of collagen, which makes the skin firm and elastic).

3. Tannins heal microcracks in the skin, thereby improving its texture.

4. Lecithin restores the protective functions of the skin.

5. Pectin cleanses the skin at a deep cellular level.

6. Niacin refreshes the complexion, makes it healthy and beautiful.

Beauty recipes using chocolate:

1. Nourishing mask for dry skin. Melt 50 grams of dark chocolate in a water bath, add a teaspoon of grape seed oil. Apply this mixture to your face, neck and décolleté, and after 15-20 minutes, rinse with warm water.

2. Purifying mask for oily skin. Melt 2 tsp. chocolate in a water bath, cool and mix with 2 tsp. white clay and 2 tsp. oatmeal. Dilute with chilled green tea to desired consistency. Apply the mixture to your face for 15-20 minutes, rinse off with a sponge or damp towel.

3. Toning mask for aging skin. Melt 1 tbsp. chocolate and mix it with 1 tbsp. liquid honey and 1 tbsp. l. aloe juice Apply for 30 minutes, rinse with warm water.

4. Chocolate wraps for stretch marks. Exfoliate your body so that the beneficial substances are better absorbed by the skin. Melt 100 grams of chocolate, mix it with 4 tablespoons of heated olive oil and apply to problem areas of the body, wrap them in cling film and wrap a warm towel on top. Lie like this for 40 minutes, then rinse with warm water and apply a moisturizing body cream.

Interesting Facts:

1. You can overeat chocolate to the point of becoming a drug addict.