The Anti-carcinogenic Properties Of Chocolate
Chocolate is the most delicious, nutritious and most popular dessert ingredient in the world. Read on to learn more about the anti-cancer properties of chocolate.
It is good to pay attention to the health benefits of chocolate. Contrary to popular belief, chocolate has very good properties that could even reduce the risk of cancer. This property comes from the main ingredient of chocolate: cocoa. In this article we take a closer look at it.
The powerful antioxidants in cocoa
Chocolate mainly contains cocoa. That’s why chocolate contains four different antioxidants, all of which can help protect your immune system:
- catechins
- flavonoids
- proanthocyanides
- resveratol
Keep in mind that all these substances can be important in protecting body cells. In addition, remember that cancer is primarily a cellular disease. All these antioxidants fight the free radicals in the body.
What are Free Radicals?
Your body is made up of cells and atoms that are related to each other through a variety of chemical processes. When an atom separates and disrupts the process of a cell, we speak of free radicals.
- The problem with free radicals is that they speed up the oxidation and aging process, among other things. In other words, free radicals cause the deterioration of the body.
- Free radicals also cause deterioration of the cardiovascular system. This can lead to ischemia.
- In the same way, there is also a chance of developing cancer.
Some cancers such as esophageal cancer and oral cancer can be caused by the effect of free radicals. These atoms can damage and destroy denominations.
The anti-carcinogenic properties of chocolate
This is where the antioxidants in cocoa could help you. These substances can protect the body against free radicals. They mainly protect body cells from their devastating effects.
Chocolate can strengthen the immune system. It can also prevent the aging of cells and organs in the body. The anti-carcinogenic properties of chocolate allow this food to act as a protective shield. This is due to the thickness of the cell structure.
The anti-carcinogenic effect of epicatechin
Epicatechin is another powerful antioxidant that helps slow the development of cancer. This is why specialists think that this molecule is able to counteract the cancer cells in the body.
If there is one product rich in epicatechin, it is cocoa. Epicatechin is thus a large part of chocolate’s anti-carcinogenic properties.
Dark chocolate contains more antioxidants
Chocolate that you find in the supermarket may have retained the many antioxidants found in cocoa beans. However, many of these chocolate products go through a purification process during production. This can cause the chocolate to lose a lot of good substances. However, dark chocolate is rich in:
- catechin
- flavonoids
- proanthocyanidin
- epicatechin
If the final product is pure, the chocolate will still contain a lot of good quality antioxidants. It is even better to use cocoa powder.
Chocolate is not medicine
While chocolate’s anti-carcinogenic properties can certainly be beneficial, it doesn’t mean you can use chocolate as a medicine. Eating a modest amount of chocolate could help you avoid the disease.
Try to avoid all the extra ingredients of chocolate. In many cases, chocolate contains a lot of sugar, which can be very unhealthy in large amounts.
Chocolate is certainly good for you, but it is not possible to use this treat as a medical treatment for cancer. It is also a good idea not to eat too much chocolate. In contrast, choose high-quality chocolate with the highest percentage of cocoa and the lowest percentage of sugar. Now you know that this tasty snack is even good for you.
