We often hear that chocolate is a good antioxidant and therefore has health benefits. So what is an antioxidant agent and how does it work? It’s not hard to explain and research is available for those who need more information. Generally, however, one should regard it as something that counteracts the disease. It does this by ‘hooking’ itself onto a free radicle, which is a disease-laden molecule looking for a cell to attach to.
Anyone with a background in chemistry, even at the school level, will understand how the molecules of matter join with one another to form elements. They comprise a nucleus with an electrical charge that has room for opposite charges to attach to it. In other words, they are positively or negatively charged.
Free radicals are molecules with unpaired electrons. As they enter the body, they look for cells that can be robbed of electrons. This causes damage that, over time, can manifest as conditions ranging from the aging of the body to cancer.
When antioxidant levels are low, such as due to poor nutrition, the immune system goes into overdrive and toxins act more quickly. These unpaired electronic microbes are extremely dangerous. They are looking for what other cells have that they need and can easily capture. That’s why foods that are known antioxidants are important.
They trap free radicals offering to match them and thus cancel cell damage. The more we have, the greater the protection. Vitamins are great antioxidants and the effect of vitamin C’s action against viruses is well known.
So what about things like chocolate? The cocoa from which it is made contains powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. It is the same one found in grapes, berries and wine. it also contains catechins Y epicatechins found in green tea. These elements are found in the beans, however, not necessarily in the finished product.
Chocolate goes through a refining process and is made using things like sugar, protein, and fat. Any heat applied to an antioxidant has the power to kill it and the way this end product is produced is through heat.
The enjoyment of chocolate by the majority speaks to its popularity. As for its health benefits, we must not forget to take into account the calories and others that it represents. Some manufacturers also add MSG (monosodium glutamate) which many are allergic to, like me. Migraine headaches can occur after consumption of certain brands.