Have a choco, choco Christmas!

It is the festive season and if you're a chocolate lover, you've probably been looking longingly at the chocolate Santas and other goodies on offer. The next time the time you buy some chocolates as gifts, or nibble a few squares, on the quiet you needn't be laden with guilt. The truth is something in cocoa beans is good for your heart and wellbeing.

The health potential of cocoa beans is real for they have antioxidant compounds called flavonols. These antioxidants attack and destroy the free radicals that are formed in the body even when you are doing nothing. These free radicals cause chemical changes in the tissues of the body, a process called oxidation, which ultimately causes diseases and kills you. So it's official: chocolates are good for health and longevity.

Cocoa seeds of the tropical cacao tree, Theobroma cacao was named by the 17th century Swedish naturalist, Linnaeus. The Greek term theobromo means literally "food of the gods". Chocolate has also been called the food of the devil; but the theological basis of this claim is obscure. A lady friend of mine, fit and strong, aged 70 years is a believer. She eats two to three squares of dark chocolate daily and tells her friends that it is her secret for longevity.

Despite the truth about flavonols the present day chocolates may be missing them. Flavanols make chocolates and cocoa taste bitter, and confectioners have spent years trying to perfect ways to remove the pungent flavour."Most chocolate, in fact, isn't flavonol-rich," says Norm Hollenberg, a radiology professor and flavonol expert at Harvard Medical School. "But all chocolate is rich in fat and calories. Chocolate is a delight."

Flavonols are found in other foods, such as red wine, grapes, apples and green tea, although cocoa beans are a particularly rich source. Unfortunately, the joys of chocolate tend to come bundled with lots of sugar (or maltitol. which is almost as bad). It takes some ingenuity to make it yummy and yet low in carbohydrates. But it can be done.

Heart-healthy chocolates are dark and bitter without much pasteurised milk and sugar. This contains 65 percent more in cocoa than milk or white chocolate. Any dark chocolate with nuts, other flavourings is healthy. Avoid caramel, nougat, or other fillings.

Eating a small bar of dark chocolates definitely helps your heart and cardiovascular system to work efficiently. Those who suffer from high blood pressure in addition to taking medication, find a small bar can help to reduce blood pressure. Studies also have shown that these dark delights lower the cholesterol level, especially the bad fellow (LDL) Additional benefits are the taste. Cocoa stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure.

Such endorphins are also produced in the brain after exercise, which makes you feel euphoric and lessens pain in case of an accident. It also contains serotonin as in bananas, which acts as an antidepressant theobromine, caffeine and other substances, which stimulate the brain cells. A "symposium" at the 2007 American Association for the Advancement of Science - presented evidence that chocolate consumption can be good for the brain.

It enhances memory and alertness. It has been found that dark chocolate can be beneficial in preventing Alzheimer's disease due to the same stimulation of brain cells. Placebo-controlled trials suggest chocolate consumption may subtly enhance cognitive performance. As reported by Dr Bryan Raudenbush (2006), verbal and visual memory is raised by eating chocolate.

Beware, though, for chocolate is still a high calorie, high-fat food, so eat small amounts per day, if you are a "chocoholic". One bar of dark chocolate has around 400 calories (amounts to one hour work out at the gym). You must cut down your X'mas puddings, cakes and the sugars if you wish to indulge in chocolate to keep your calorie intake to the minimum.

Studies have shown that chocolate contains up to four times the antioxidants found in tea. This was a study done by Holland's National Institute of Public Health and Environment. Researchers found that dark chocolate contains 53.5 mg of catechins per 100grams. (Catechins are the powerful antioxidants that fight against cancer-causing cells and help prevent heart disease).

By contrast, 100 ml of black tea contains a mere 13.9 mg of catechins. This would be the best news for the "chocoholics" this Christmas. The bad news is that chocolate contains so much of saturated fats that outweigh the health benefits to be gained from the catechins.

How about drinking green tea with a piece of dark chocolate in the morning to counteract the bad effects, and a compromise?
Wishing all the readers a happy tasteful! Christmas, "chocoholics" included.

Ref: About.com: Longevity, Health Benefits of Chocolate by Mark Stibich, Ph.D. March, 2007
Chocolate Manufacturers Association: Journal of the American Medical Association
About.com Chinese Food
By Rhonda Parkinson, 2007 Is Chocolate healthier than green tea?