People all over the world love eating chocolates but not many are aware that there can be significant health benefits gained from eating them. Looking into the question of chocolate and digestion, it becomes obvious that the ingredients used in the manufacture of the chocolates have a large part to play. Many producers manufacturing chocolates today take health considerations very seriously. Dark organic chocolate has by far the most significant health and digestive benefits.
Organic ingredients only earn their certification if they are grown without resorting to use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms or ionizing radiation. Cocoa beans are mostly grown in tropical climates like West Africa, where conditions are humid and rainfall is regular. The more cocoa mass contained in a product, the greater the health benefits.
The beans contain high levels of antioxidants that absorb free radicals, preventing cell and tissue damage. They promote the health of the heart, helping prevent cardiovascular disease. Of course they also contain feel good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. It is no wonder that people say eating chocolates makes them feel better.
They are also rich in many such as vitamins A, B1, C and E. That play an important part in keeping the body healthy. Minerals such as copper, zinc, iron and potassium are also found and are vital for proper brain function, promoting cell growth, issue repair and absorption of nutrients.
On the wrapper of the bar, a percentage is displayed. This shows the amount of ingredients in a bar that actually come from the cocoa bean. It is the other added ingredients that can cause digestive problems. For example, lactose is a complex sugar found in milk and it needs to be broken down by lactase, a digestive enzyme, for it to be absorbed. If someone is deficient in lactase, they are considered lactose intolerant and can suffer from bloating, gas, abdominal pain and diarrhea when eating dairy products. There are products being manufactured today that are dairy free such as those using dairy-free substitutes like coconut milk.
Chocolates contain milk and this could cause digestive problems for those who are lactose intolerant. These people are usually deficient in an enzyme called lactase which is needed to break down the complex sugar found in the milk, enabling it to be digested. If this lactose is not broken down it can cause problems like bloating and abdominal pain. There are dairy-free products available for such individuals, containing substitutes such as coconut milk.
People with digestive conditions like celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome should be very careful when it comes to chocolates and should preferably avoid them. However, most people with healthy digestive systems have no problem when it comes to eating chocolates and in fact it helps their digestion. The reason for this is that the dietary fiber in the cocoa mass helps with the digestive process. It stimulates the intestinal movements which helps to keep the walls of the stomach and intestine clean.
For someone with none of these problems, there is no question that the dietary fiber found in cocoa beans is beneficial to the digestive process. With the issues regarding chocolate and digestion being raised, more manufacturers are carefully choosing the ingredients they use. Many of the healthiest products are available from online stores.
Organic ingredients only earn their certification if they are grown without resorting to use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms or ionizing radiation. Cocoa beans are mostly grown in tropical climates like West Africa, where conditions are humid and rainfall is regular. The more cocoa mass contained in a product, the greater the health benefits.
The beans contain high levels of antioxidants that absorb free radicals, preventing cell and tissue damage. They promote the health of the heart, helping prevent cardiovascular disease. Of course they also contain feel good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. It is no wonder that people say eating chocolates makes them feel better.
They are also rich in many such as vitamins A, B1, C and E. That play an important part in keeping the body healthy. Minerals such as copper, zinc, iron and potassium are also found and are vital for proper brain function, promoting cell growth, issue repair and absorption of nutrients.
On the wrapper of the bar, a percentage is displayed. This shows the amount of ingredients in a bar that actually come from the cocoa bean. It is the other added ingredients that can cause digestive problems. For example, lactose is a complex sugar found in milk and it needs to be broken down by lactase, a digestive enzyme, for it to be absorbed. If someone is deficient in lactase, they are considered lactose intolerant and can suffer from bloating, gas, abdominal pain and diarrhea when eating dairy products. There are products being manufactured today that are dairy free such as those using dairy-free substitutes like coconut milk.
Chocolates contain milk and this could cause digestive problems for those who are lactose intolerant. These people are usually deficient in an enzyme called lactase which is needed to break down the complex sugar found in the milk, enabling it to be digested. If this lactose is not broken down it can cause problems like bloating and abdominal pain. There are dairy-free products available for such individuals, containing substitutes such as coconut milk.
People with digestive conditions like celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome should be very careful when it comes to chocolates and should preferably avoid them. However, most people with healthy digestive systems have no problem when it comes to eating chocolates and in fact it helps their digestion. The reason for this is that the dietary fiber in the cocoa mass helps with the digestive process. It stimulates the intestinal movements which helps to keep the walls of the stomach and intestine clean.
For someone with none of these problems, there is no question that the dietary fiber found in cocoa beans is beneficial to the digestive process. With the issues regarding chocolate and digestion being raised, more manufacturers are carefully choosing the ingredients they use. Many of the healthiest products are available from online stores.
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