Can chocolate be healthy?
A conversation between two professors from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) contemplates some of the positive effects of eating chocolate in a regulated way.
Some studies suggest that moderate (2-3 times a week) eating of chocolate with a high cocoa content (70% or higher), can have positive effects on cardiovascular health owing to its flavonoid content, with antioxidant properties.
The conversation between Patricia Martínez and Diego Redolar, two professors from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) follows the same lines, contemplating some of the positive effects of eating chocolate in a regulated way.
What does science say about chocolate consumption?
Amongst others, they mention the inhibition of the oxidation of the LDL cholesterol, vessel regulation and the improvement of the endothelial dysfunction, its anti-inflammatory properties and modulators of the immune response and finally, its antiplatelet and anti-hypertensive effect, that is to say, its repercussions on mood improvement.
However, Martínez and Redolar also warn that eating chocolate at night can cause insomnia, as it has some alkaloids known as methylxanthines that are stimulators of the nervous system.
They also uphold the importance of reading the ingredients of products containing chocolate, as derived products do not usually have more than 50% of pure cocoa, meaning its antioxidant effect losses effectiveness.
