It’s chocolate! Waw, who does not like chocolate? Most of the people in this world must love chocolate. Chocolate gives you a very pleasant sensation when you eat it. That sweet taste, the melt in your mouth, and the softness provided by chocolate, who can describe this? It gives you an incredible sensation!
Chocolate can be processed into anything. Maybe, cake? The chocolate flavor of the cold pudding that saved you from the hot air maybe? Or, the warm chocolate that accompanies you in front of the fireplace that is looking for warmth from the cold of the snow or rain outside? No doubt, chocolate will not disappoint for you who are sweet lovers! Chocolate is very beneficial, especially Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
Chocolate has nutrients that are very beneficial to our body. Here is a list of nutritional content of dark chocolate per 100 grams :
- Calories                      546
- Total Fat                     31 g
- Saturated fat              19 g
- Polyunsaturated fat    1.1 g
- Monounsaturated fat 10 g
- Trans fat                     0.1 g
- Cholesterol                 8 mg
- Sodium                       24 mg
- Potassium                   559 mg
- Total Carbohydrate     61 g
- Dietary fiber               7 g
- Sugar                          48 g
- Protein                        4.9 g
- Caffeine                     43 mg
- Vitamin AÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1 %
- Vitamin CÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0 %
- Vitamin DÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0 %
- Vitamin B-6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0 %
- Vitamin B-12Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3 %
- Calcium                      5 %
- Iron                            44 %
- Magnesium                 36 %
Very rich in nutrients that benefit the body, right? But below will not discuss the benefits of chocolate for the body. You will be served a more specific health benefits of chocolate during pregnancy.
Don’t be afraid! Some people say that chocolate is harmful to the pregnancy. But, in fact, as you can see in the list of nutrients above, all the content will not be dangerous to our body, right? Actually, all the content is the content that is needed by our body. So, for women who are pregnant, come closer and get valuable information about what the health benefits of chocolate during pregnancy.
1. Preventing preeclampsia
We all must have the same wish, that we want our babies to be born healthy without premature. But there is a pregnancy disorder that is very dangerous for us and our fetus. The disorder is called Preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy disorder that can make pregnant women suffering high blood pressure, also can cause premature birth, liver and kidney disorders, and endanger the lives of women who are pregnant. To avoid it, we recommend you to start eating chocolate.
Because of chocolate, there is theobromine content that can make pregnant women are not stressed and relaxed so that the fetus also can feel calm. Theobromine content is responsible for preventing all the risks that caused by preeclampsia.
Furthermore, according to research conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Triche of Yale University, shows that if a pregnant woman consumes chocolate regularly, this will make the baby born with a high concentration of theobromine in the umbilical cord blood.
2. Increasing metabolism system
Why can chocolate improve the metabolism system? Because chocolate contains a very important substance that is magnesium and iron. Magnesium and iron work together to help the process of metabolizing fats, producing red blood cells and protecting pregnant women from anemia. They also create the formation of hemoglobin and helping the fatty acid metabolic process.
3. Normalize the blood pressure
Because a pregnant woman can suffer high blood pressure, they need an intake that can help to normalize the blood pressure. This is very important for women who are pregnant. There are plenty of other intakes to normalize blood pressure, but you can count on chocolate as well to overcome this problem.
Chocolate can help normalize blood pressure and reduce the risk of defects in the fetus. What is the reason? Again it is because of the effect of theobromine content. The content of theobromine can also dilate/widen the blood vessels so it can make blood pressure back to normal.
4. As a source of antioxidants
According to Mayo clinic, antioxidants can overcome the free radicals that can enter our body through cigarette smoke or pesticides. The benefits of antioxidants in chocolate is to prevent the growth of cancer cells in pregnant women so that pregnant woman and fetal are free from cancer risk and avoid heart disease. In addition, antioxidants work to form the immune system and keep pregnant women healthy.
5. Can effect to the happiness the baby
The fetus has a very strong bond with his mother. That is why, if his mother is feeling stressed or depressed, then this will also affect the fetus. Based on research conducted by the pregnant women’s health magazine in Finland, showed that by consuming chocolate, the mother will feel calmness and can make her happy and ultimately affect the fetus who can feel the happiness as well.
6. Increase baby’s response
Another content that contained in chocolate is phenylethylamine content. Phenylethylamine content is the content that is absorbed by the fetus when the mother is eating chocolate. This content works to give a good effect on the baby’s response when he’s born and during the growth period. He can give respond to his parents and his environment calmly and relax.
Moreover, there are other contents that have an important role in the development of the baby’s brain. This content is a monounsaturated fat content called oleic acid which is also provided in chocolate.
7. Lose weight
It is true if we eat chocolate that contains a lot of sugar and fat, this can of make us becoming fat. But, there are chocolates that do not contain much fat and sugar. For example, as you can see in the list of nutrients above, the list shows that dark chocolate has a total of 31 g fat and 48 g of sugar.
The content of fat and sugar in dark chocolate is less than the other chocolate, such as Health Benefits of White Chocolate that has 32 g of fat content and 59 g sugar content. Therefore, by consuming dark chocolate in the right way, this will help you lose weight and smooth the digestion of pregnant women.
8. Create a happy mood of a pregnant woman
For women who are pregnant, do you often feel the change of moods? Do you feel the hormonal changes in your attitude? Do you often feel very happy sometimes, sometimes angry, sometimes sad? It is very natural to be experienced by a woman who is pregnant because it is a hormonal influence or because you just tired that time. Try eating chocolate and feel the change in your mood.
Research shows that chocolate has a function to stimulate the production of endorphins in the brain, spine, and other body parts. The Endorphin can make you feel good. In addition, there is another compound in chocolate that acts as an antidepressant, that is serotonin.
The other health benefits of chocolate for the pregnant woman is :
9. Preventing anemia – Anemia is dangerous for us and especially for the pregnant woman. Chocolate is one of the Anemia Treatments. Chocolate is one of the foods that have an effect of blood-boosting that can prevent pregnant moms from suffering the Symptoms of Anemia or anemia itself.
10. Phenylethylamine – chocolate has a phenylethylamine substance that works to relieve stress.
11. Frequently of eating chocolate can help pregnant women in terms of making their skin becomes smoother and can protect the skin from ultraviolet rays
Recommendation Intake of Chocolate for Pregnant Women
That’s the health benefits of chocolate for the pregnant woman. So, don’t be afraid of eating chocolate, but get beneficial for you start from now on. There is some recommendation about what kind of chocolate that bringing good effect to your body’s health.
1. Avoid processed chocolate – Why? Processed chocolates can be harmful to pregnant women because they may be unclean and increase bacterial infections for the mother and fetus. We recommend pure chocolate mixed with nuts or candy.
2. Choose dark chocolate that is low in fat and sugar for avoiding obesity.
Cautions
However, there is a several things that you must give a serious attention when you consume chocolate during pregnancy.
1. Too much caffeine can be dangerous
As seen in the list above, chocolate contains caffeine like coffee. If you eat too much chocolate, you will also automatically consume pretty much of caffeine that can be absorbed by the fetus through the placenta.
Research shows that too much caffeine can cause disability of the baby. Pregnant women are required to maintain caffeine intake with a maximum limit of 200 mg every day
2. Obesity
Although dark chocolate has less fat and sugar content than other chocolate, still, if you consume it in large quantities, it can still cause obesity. There are a lot of the Health Risks of Obesity , including for pregnant women. Obesity has a strong influence in making high blood pressure and has affected to heart health, also harmful to the health of your fetus.
So, please be careful in the amount of chocolate that you consume though there are many health benefits of chocolate during pregnancy.