Is Chocolate good for you & does it Is Chocolate good for you & does it really prevent heart disease?really prevent heart disease?

Shalonda MaconShalonda Macon

Brief History About Chocolate.Brief History About Chocolate. Chocolate originates from the Chocolate originates from the

seeds of the Theobroma Tree.seeds of the Theobroma Tree. Mesoamericans ( Myans, Mesoamericans ( Myans,

Aztecs) considered chocolate to Aztecs) considered chocolate to be Food of the gods. be Food of the gods. Theobroma actually means Theobroma actually means Food Of the Gods.Food Of the Gods.

Theobroma originated in South Theobroma originated in South America (Orinoco River) & it America (Orinoco River) & it belongs to the Sterculiaceae belongs to the Sterculiaceae family family

Cacao came about from the Cacao came about from the Orinoco basin. The seeds & Orinoco basin. The seeds & plants were spreaded by plants were spreaded by humans through trade.humans through trade.

                                                                            

             

Botanical CharastersticsBotanical Charasterstics Theobroma is a evergreen, Theobroma is a evergreen,

under story shade tree.under story shade tree. It grows best in warm It grows best in warm

tropical areas. If its below tropical areas. If its below 60 degrees F. then it will not 60 degrees F. then it will not produce any fruit or produce any fruit or blossom.blossom.

In the wild= trees grow to a In the wild= trees grow to a length of 40 to 60’ length of 40 to 60’

On a plantation= grows to On a plantation= grows to about 20’ for purposes of about 20’ for purposes of making grabbing easy.making grabbing easy.

How its made.How its made.

                                             The cacao pod is sliced. Seeds are removed along with the pulp & allowed to The cacao pod is sliced. Seeds are removed along with the pulp & allowed to

fermentferment Fermentation process is very important because it generates chemical Fermentation process is very important because it generates chemical

changes in the seed that lead to the delicious chocolate flavor. If this process changes in the seed that lead to the delicious chocolate flavor. If this process is overlooked or skipped, the beans wont develop the chocolaty flavor.is overlooked or skipped, the beans wont develop the chocolaty flavor.

Sun dry beans ( 1- 2 weeks)Sun dry beans ( 1- 2 weeks) The roasting process takes place and then they're shipped off to various The roasting process takes place and then they're shipped off to various

locations.locations.

GOOD NEWS!! 1 oz of Chocolate GOOD NEWS!! 1 oz of Chocolate can possibly have medicinal benefits.can possibly have medicinal benefits.

WHY ITS GOOD FOR YOU!!WHY ITS GOOD FOR YOU!! 11stst Remember Remember: : Not All Chocolate Is Created Equal!!Not All Chocolate Is Created Equal!!

Chocolate as a cancer preventative?Chocolate as a cancer preventative? Chocolate preventing Heart Disease?Chocolate preventing Heart Disease?

Chocolate may have beneficial effects on Heart Disease byChocolate may have beneficial effects on Heart Disease by Lowering blood pressureLowering blood pressure Anti-inflammatoryAnti-inflammatory Anti-platelet functionAnti-platelet function Higher HDLHigher HDL Decreased LDLDecreased LDL

Chocolate as a mood enhancer.?Chocolate as a mood enhancer.?

Short Video ClipShort Video Clip

The Truth About ChocolateThe Truth About Chocolate 1111 http://www.webmd.com/video/truth-about-http://www.webmd.com/video/truth-about-

chocolatechocolate

Can Chocolate be used as a cancer Can Chocolate be used as a cancer preventative?preventative?

Chocolate is rich with antioxidants (polyphenols), Chocolate is rich with antioxidants (polyphenols), which is the same thing that’s found in a ½ cup of which is the same thing that’s found in a ½ cup of brewed black tea.brewed black tea.

The antioxidants decrease cells from becoming The antioxidants decrease cells from becoming oxidated. Oxidation makes free radicals which can oxidated. Oxidation makes free radicals which can damage your cells & lead to heart disease and cancer.damage your cells & lead to heart disease and cancer.

Due to chocolate being rich in these antioxidants, Due to chocolate being rich in these antioxidants, researchers believe that they could possibly researchers believe that they could possibly contribute to preventing cancer BUT its not definitive contribute to preventing cancer BUT its not definitive that it does and needs more investigating. that it does and needs more investigating.

How Chocolate possibly prevents How Chocolate possibly prevents Heart Disease?Heart Disease?

Chocolate reduces the efficiency of Platelets therefore, reducing clotting

That leads to heart disease andHeart attacks

Another study reveals that Cocoa Possibly lessens LDL (bad cholesterol)

& raises HDL (good cholesterol) Which in return decreases your

Chance of developing heart disease.

This is only ground work evidenceThat having antioxidants from

Chocolate will truthfully decrease the development of Heart disease.

Its electrifying news but it still Needs more research & studying.

According to a study that was published inThe peer journal of: Cardiovascular

Research & Biological Chemistry, scientist Leeki-Won & other researchers from KonkukDiscovered a substance in Cacao plants that May help suppress Heart Disease & cancer.

The substance they found & How The substance they found & How they think it works.they think it works.

The substance they found in The substance they found in chocolate = Procyanidinchocolate = Procyanidin

How it works!How it works! Procyanidin inhibits MEK Procyanidin inhibits MEK

& MT-1 which are proteins & MT-1 which are proteins associated with associated with arteriosclerosis.arteriosclerosis.

Its also thought to suppress Its also thought to suppress VEGF =which is a protein VEGF =which is a protein associated with forming associated with forming new blood vessels that feed new blood vessels that feed tumors, therefore preventing tumors, therefore preventing cell from turning into cancer cell from turning into cancer cells.cells.

Chocolate as a mood enhancer?Chocolate as a mood enhancer? Chocolate increases the Chocolate increases the

level of serotonin which is a level of serotonin which is a brain chemical that’s brain chemical that’s responsible for elevating a responsible for elevating a persons mood.persons mood.

It also has small quantities It also has small quantities of caffeine which stimulates of caffeine which stimulates the brain as well.the brain as well.

Chocolate has the same Chocolate has the same mood-enhancing chemicals mood-enhancing chemicals that’s found in marijuana that’s found in marijuana but in much smaller but in much smaller amountsamounts

Chocolate ComponetsChocolate Componets Stearic Acid Stearic Acid FlavonoidsFlavonoids

Are protective against HD byAre protective against HD by ↑ ↑ HDLHDL ↓ ↓ Blood pressureBlood pressure Anti-oxidantAnti-oxidant Anti-plateletAnti-platelet Anti-inflammatory effectsAnti-inflammatory effects Improving endothelial function Improving endothelial function

by ↑ brachial artery circulation & by ↑ brachial artery circulation & dilation dilation

Stearic acid is a important Stearic acid is a important contributing factor in preventing contributing factor in preventing heart disease because it reduces heart disease because it reduces blood pressure and the mean blood pressure and the mean platelet volume.platelet volume.

However, there has been no study However, there has been no study that appropriately proves the that appropriately proves the association of the stearic acid association of the stearic acid intake stopping heart disease. But intake stopping heart disease. But it does suggest that the stearic it does suggest that the stearic acid components in chocolate acid components in chocolate could be beneficial for could be beneficial for cardiovascular health.cardiovascular health.

Other Mechanisms Other Mechanisms Chocolate affects the level of prostacylins & leukotrines.Chocolate affects the level of prostacylins & leukotrines. Leukotrines = (bad guys) are powerful vasoconstrictors, Leukotrines = (bad guys) are powerful vasoconstrictors,

proinflammatory agents that encourage platelet aggregation. proinflammatory agents that encourage platelet aggregation. HoweverHowever

Prostacylins= (good guys) is a vasodilator and it inhibits Prostacylins= (good guys) is a vasodilator and it inhibits platelet aggregation. By consuming chocolate high in platelet aggregation. By consuming chocolate high in procyanidin it actually lowers the levels of the Leukotrines procyanidin it actually lowers the levels of the Leukotrines (bad guys) and increases the level of prostacylin.(bad guys) and increases the level of prostacylin.

Due to the procyanidin flavonoid in chocolate and its effects Due to the procyanidin flavonoid in chocolate and its effects (inhibiting platelet aggregations, (inhibiting platelet aggregations, ↑HDL ,↓ Blood Pressure, ↑HDL ,↓ Blood Pressure, etc.) thereby protective against risk of CVDetc.) thereby protective against risk of CVD

Platelet Function Effects.Platelet Function Effects.

The anti-platelet effects The anti-platelet effects of chocolate is due to of chocolate is due to the amplified the amplified production of nitric production of nitric oxide.oxide.

Nitric oxide promotes Nitric oxide promotes vasodilatation as well as vasodilatation as well as inhibit platelet inhibit platelet aggregation .aggregation .

                 

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

However, in order to Definitively examine the

Impact of chocolates consumption on CVD there needs to be More detailed studies &

Investigations.

It Can ImproveYou mood and has

The potentials of preventingcancer

It Does Contain Flavonoids that have manyBeneficial purposes for the

Functioning of yourHeart

YES ChocolateCan be good

For you

REFRENCES.REFRENCES.

Engler, M., & Engler, M. (2006). The Emerging Role Engler, M., & Engler, M. (2006). The Emerging Role of Flavonoid-Rich Cocoa and Chocolate in of Flavonoid-Rich Cocoa and Chocolate in Cardiovascular Health and Disease. Cardiovascular Health and Disease. Nutrition Nutrition ReviewsReviews, , 6464(3), 109-118. (3), 109-118. doi:10.1301/nr.2006.mar.109-118.doi:10.1301/nr.2006.mar.109-118.

http://www.delange.org/Cocao/Cocao.htmhttp://www.delange.org/Cocao/Cocao.htm http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www//news/biz/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www//news/biz/

2008/09/123_30521.html2008/09/123_30521.html http://www.independent.ie/health/diet-fitness/can-http://www.independent.ie/health/diet-fitness/can-

chocolate-prevent-cancer-1254196.htmlchocolate-prevent-cancer-1254196.html