Ineffable~
DAT SNARKITUDE
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- Age 31
- Any ol' place really
- Seen Sep 2, 2012
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Chocolate.jpg
And after that delicious picture, here's your info (From this page):
Cocoa or dark chocolate benefits the circulatory system. Other beneficial effects suggested include anticancer, brain stimulator, cough preventor and antidiarrhoeal effects. An aphrodisiac effect is yet unproven.
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A study reported by the BBC indicated that melting chocolate in one's mouth produced an increase in brain activity and heart rate that was more intense than that associated with passionate kissing, and also lasted four times as long after the activity had ended.
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Recent studies have suggested that cocoa or dark chocolate may possess certain beneficial effects on human health. Cocoa possesses a significant antioxidant action, protecting against LDL oxidation, perhaps more than other polyphenol antioxidant-rich foods and beverages. Some studies have also observed a modest reduction in blood pressure and flow-mediated dilation after consuming dark chocolate daily.
and:
One-third of the fat in chocolate comes in the forms of a saturated fat called stearic acid and a monounsaturated fat called oleic acid. However, unlike other saturated fats, stearic acid does not raise levels of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream. Consuming relatively large amounts of dark chocolate and cocoa does not seem to raise serum LDL cholesterol levels; some studies even find that it could lower them. Indeed, small but regular amounts of dark chocolate lower the possibility of a heart attack, a result of cholesterol imbalance according to the lipid hypothesis.
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Romantic lore commonly identifies chocolate as an aphrodisiac. The reputed aphrodisiac qualities of chocolate are most often associated with the simple sensual pleasure of its consumption. Additionally, chocolate's sweet and fatty nature may stimulate the hypothalamus, inducing pleasureable sensations as well as affecting the levels of serotonin. While serotonin has a pleasurable effect, in high concentrations it can be converted to melatonin which in large amounts reduces sexual drive. Finally, chocolate has been shown to contain unsaturated N-acylethanolamines which might activate cannabinoid receptors or increase endocannabinoid levels resulting in heightened sensitivity and euphoria. Although there is no firm proof that chocolate is indeed an aphrodisiac, a gift of chocolate is a familiar courtship ritual.
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Studies suggest a specially formulated type of cocoa may be nootropic and delay brain function decline as people age.
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According to Mars-funded researchers at Harvard, the University of California, and European universities, cocoa-based prescription drugs could potentially help treat diabetes, dementia and other diseases.
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The chocolate also appears to soothe and moisten the throat.
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Milk is known to cause acne, including any which is mixed with chocolate.
(Well, you know it's not the chocolate's fault)
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Chocolate is a mild stimulant to humans mainly due to the presence of theobromine. It is much more potent for horses, and its use in horse racing is prohibited.
But for all good news, there is bad news:
In sufficient amounts, the theobromine found in chocolate is toxic to non-human animals such as horses, dogs, parrots, small rodents, and cats because they are unable to metabolise the chemical effectively. If they are fed chocolate, the theobromine will remain in their bloodstream for up to 20 hours, and these animals may experience epileptic seizures, heart attacks, internal bleeding, and eventually death. Medical treatment involves inducing vomiting within two hours of ingestion, or contacting a veterinarian.
(So that's why dogs can't eat chocolate...)
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Chocolate has one of the higher concentrations of lead among products that constitute a typical Westerner's diet, with a potential to cause mild lead poisoning. Recent studies have shown that although the beans themselves absorb little lead, it tends to bind to cocoa shells and contamination may occur during the manufacturing process. A recent peer-reviewed publication found significant amounts of lead in chocolate. A review article published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2006 states that despite high consumption levels of chocolate, there is a paucity of data on lead concentrations in chocolate products. In a USDA study in 2004, mean lead levels in the samples tested ranged from 0.0010 to 0.0965 µg lead per gram of chocolate, but another study by a Swiss research group in 2002 found that some chocolate contained up to 0.769 µg per gram, close to the international (voluntary) standard limit for lead in cocoa powder or beans, which is 1 µg of lead per gram. In 2006, the U.S. FDA lowered by one-fifth the amount of lead permissible in candy, but compliance is only voluntary. While studies show that the lead consumed in chocolate may not all be absorbed by the human body, there is no known threshold for the effects of lead on children's brain function and even small quantities of lead can cause permanent neurodevelopmental deficits including impaired IQ.
And there you go.
Btw: Hey Mudkipblader, you might want to think about a choco-gallery.
Here are some pics:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ec/Dscn4337-choc-chicks_crop_600x1000.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Melted_chocolate.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Chocolate_candy_piece.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Reichstag_Chocolate_P7120043.JPG
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Cocoa_Pods.JPG
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Chocolate.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Toblerone-1.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/M&m2.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/22/HersheyCo.PNG
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a7/Tootsie_roll_small.jpg
and I have more.....
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