7 July
WORLD CHOCOLATE DAY
Chocolate – are there people who don’t like it? Certainly they are, but the vast majority of people enjoy eating or drinking chocolate specialties. This is because chocolate has an effect on our nervous system.
We often associate eating chocolate with pleasant situations.
„Save the date” is a series of articles that have been written to celebrate various unusual holidays. The authors of the presented materials are students, doctoral students and employees of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Silesia.
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JOANNA ORZEŁ, PhD
Institute of Chemistry
modeling of complex instrumental signals group
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What is chocolate?
It is a product made from cocoa fruit (more precisely from the seeds from which the so-called cocoa liquor is obtained). In addition to cocoa liquor in chocolate, we find cocoa (or other vegetable) fat and, depending on the type, sweeteners and other additives (e.g. milk, dried fruits and nuts). There are as many types of chocolate as there are masters who are expertly trained to make it. It is worth mentioning that this is a process that requires craftsmanship and attention (chocolate is extremely sensitive to temperature changes!). However, when looking at the basic types, we can distinguish four: dark chocolate (with the shortest composition and a high percentage of cocoa content), dessert chocolate (with added sugar or other sweetener), milk chocolate (in addition to the paste and fat, it contains sugar and milk) and white chocolate ( the only common thing with real chocolate is the shape and the fact that it melts nicely in the mouth, but it does not contain cocoa and it is a mixture of fats and sugar).
Is chocolate heathly?
Some say that since chocolate is made of a plant, it is a salad. It may not be entirely true, but its natural origin makes it have health-promoting properties (let’s make it clear that we are talking about chocolate made from cocoa fruit, with a high liquor content). It is rich in antioxidants supporting the fight against free radicals and the oxidative stress caused by them. The flavonoids contained in it can improve the condition of our cardiovascular system and positively affect the protection of our skin against UV radiation. It also has a good effect on cholesterol management and lowers the risk of heart attack. Undoubtedly, in most people it also improves the mood, which is not without significance when it comes to the condition of our body. Let us emphasise that the above-mentioned benefits of consuming chocolate take place when we dose it rationally – while savouring cubes, not whole bars.
So does chocolate have any disadvantages?
It would seem not, but if used in excess, it will surely increase centimetres of your loved body because it is a high-calorie product. It can also cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. In extreme cases, its regular, uncontrolled consumption leads to an addiction that we call chocoholism.
Despite several “dangers”, chocolate is recommended for moderate consumption and it is certainly a tasty option to provide a portion of good ingredients to our body. On the day of its holiday, let’s increase the therapeutic dose to celebrate it properly