“chocolates birthday gift”Is

 

Why “chocolates birthday gift”Is a Great Idea

Don’t think twice about giving chocolate as presents. Your loved ones will thank you for providing them with a great-tasting comfort food that is also good for their overall health.

Aztec and Mayan cultures have enjoyed cocoa beans since the 12th century, but scientists have been discovering exciting new health benefits of chocolate over the past two decades.

Here are 9 great reasons you shouldn’t feel guilty about giving this satisfying treat (especially the dark variety) as gifts to friends and loved ones.

1.  Chocolate improves cognitive performance.

Eating chocolate on a regular basis can lead to better cognitive function — including brain activities such as reasoning, memory, attention and language. A report in Appetite noted that chocolate consumption was associated with cognitive performance, regardless of other dietary habits.                                

2.  It’s good for the heart

Dark chocolate helps restore the flexibility of arteries as well as prevent white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels.

3.  Reduces chances of stroke

Eating a small amount of chocolate each day could prevent diabetes and insulin resistance. Daily chocolate consumption was also linked to a lower risk of stroke.

 

4.  Reduces memory decline

Drinking two cups of hot chocolate a day may help stop memory decline and keep the brain healthy. A Harvard Medical School study discovered that hot chocolate helped improve blood flow to essential parts of the brain.

5.  Mineral abundance

Dark chocolate is loaded with a healthy collection of beneficial minerals such as potassium, zinc and selenium. A 100-gram bar of dark chocolate (70 percent or more) provides 67 percent of the RDA of iron, an important component of hemoglobin, which helps red blood cells carry oxygen from lungs throughout the body.

 

6.  See you later, bad cholesterol

It’s been observed that eating cocoa can reduce levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and raise levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL), thus lowering the possibility of suffering from cardiovascular disease.

7.  Healthy skin too!

It used to be a common misconception that chocolate was the cause of skin acne breakouts. But that myth has been debunked. Today’s science has shown that dark chocolate is a great source of flavonols — a group of plant metabolites that have excellent antioxidant effects. These flavonols can fight against skin damage.

 

8.  Less stress for moms

 

According to a Finnish study, eating chocolate reduced stress in expectant mothers. Even more fascinating, the babies of these chocolate-eating moms smiled more than those of non-chocolate-eating parents.

 

9.  Chocolate helps you feel better

Chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), which is the same chemical that your brain creates when you feel like you’re falling in love. PEA encourages your brain to release feel-good endorphins.

 

Try to buy pure chocolate, as many name brand chocolate companies sell diluted chocolate. Also, don’t forget that chocolate does have a high calorie count and can contain large amounts of sugar. Moderation is key, even when it comes to chocolate.