Comfortable summer time! Lastly, effectively perhaps virtually right here within the Pacific Northwest. It often arrives proper after the 4th of July so we’re proper on observe. Time for a bit enjoyable within the solar and straightforward, lazy days so thought I’d share with you some yummy information to lighten your day and make you smile large. And simply in time for WORLD CHOCOLATE DAY!
Chocolate is Good for Your Mouth
WHOA! Chocolate not solely tastes good however is nice for you?!? Extra pointedly, it’s good to your enamel and perhaps even your complete physique. Be nonetheless my wholesome coronary heart. Being a chocolate type of particular person, I cherished studying about this. (Sure, it does comprise sugar and we’ll handle that shortly.) However isn’t that nice information that chocolate is definitely good for you!?
Chocolate is magical! However then chocoholics already knew that. The magic in these little cocoa beans is because of the tannins, polyphenols (which wine has too… a weblog publish for one more day) and flavonoids which are robust antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that neutralize free radicals and stop cell injury. Free radicals trigger “oxidative stress” and cell injury which is dangerous to your physique, and is said to many power illnesses. Chocolate to the rescue!
Subsequently, the upper the cacao/cocoa share of your subsequent chocolate bar, the extra superior antioxidants you’ll eat.
Stopping Cavities
The tannins inhibit bacterial development on enamel. (Lowering plaque biofilm.) Polyphenols neutralize the micro organism that trigger dangerous breath, stopping gum illness and stopping tooth decay. (Reduces strep mutans and strep sobrinus that trigger dental illnesses.) The flavonoids gradual tooth decay. All this from one thing that additionally tastes so good. Eat extra chocolate!
Throughout a visit to the Caribbean I visited a chocolate plantation and watched how the cacao seed was remodeled into one thing that will change into the deliciousness of chocolate. Fascinating that they found out take that seed and plenty of steps later create one thing that tastes fabulous. They knew a great factor even then.
Chocolate – Darker the Higher
Darkish chocolate is the important thing. It’s loaded with antioxidants. Search for chocolate with round 70% cacao on the label. Cacao is the uncooked type of chocolate whereas cocoa is the heated model of cacao. Darkish chocolate has a extra bitter style than the extra in style milk chocolate, however does comprise much less sugar.
The darker the chocolate, the more healthy it’s, containing extra dietary flavonoids. Along with being good for oral well being, these flavonoids can also be linked to a decrease danger of coronary coronary heart illness in addition to reducing your danger of insulin resistance, enhance blood vessel move, presumably cut back hypertension in adults and inflammation body-wide. It’s wealthy in lots of minerals, together with iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, and copper. Magnesium is a mineral needed for over 300 totally different enzyme reactions in your physique however missing in lots of peoples’ diets. (After all extra analysis is required to verify this, I guess there can be many volunteers for that research.)
Chocolate – The Love Drug
Enjoyable fact- the Aztecs thought-about it an aphrodisiac and the well-known Casanova drank chocolate earlier than seeing his lovers. Chocolate incorporates a small quantity of a chemical referred to as phenylethylamine (PEA) which acts as a central nervous system stimulant and releases dopamine and norepinephrine. PEA is linked to temper, consideration, bodily power, and emotional euphoria. Thus, chocolate’s connection to Valentine’s Day and it being a “love drug.”
Theobromine
(I digress however simply needed to share these cool chocolate information.) Again to enamel – one of many components within the cacao seeds is theobromine which is a safe substance for people (not like fluoride…). And in contrast to fluoride, it’s secure to swallow. (Ever see the warning labels on industrial fluoride toothpaste? – learn the positive print…)
That is the magic part- theobromine will increase the crystal dimension of hydroxyapatite. (The hydroxyapatite is the primary inorganic ingredient of tooth enamel.) This makes the enamel harder. Suppose cavity prevention!! With Chocolate. And with this hardness comes remineralization and even reversal of small cavities within the enamel surfaces.
Actually, theobroma cacao is alleged to imply “meals of the gods,” and plenty of specialists think about cacao to be a “super fruit.” Chocolate is a present from the gods, to make certain.
Suga, Suga
Time to speak concerning the sugar in chocolate. Darkish chocolate has much less sugar than milk chocolate. And right here’s the factor, all the things moderately. A weight loss program excessive in sugar triples your danger for heart problems. However, my mentors Drs. Bale and Doneen prescribe 7 grams – one small sq. – of darkish chocolate a day for a wholesome coronary heart, in addition to most cancers and stroke prevention plus a bunch of different things. Hm, docs’ orders! So, whereas there’s sugar, the nice issues chocolate does for your entire physique could outweigh the potential adverse results of the sugar.
Making Your Personal Chocolate Toothpaste
Who wants industrial toothpaste when you’ve got superior merchandise to make a fair higher toothpaste in your personal palms? A toothpaste you and your little ones can safely swallow, that remineralizes enamel, reduces plaque biofilm, has no undesirable components and tastes nice! And it’s secure sufficient to eat? That sounds excellent to me! More healthy for you and your loved ones. We’ve got been so conditioned to buy toothpaste however this paste is a good possibility.
So, chocolate- yup! How will we incorporate that into toothpaste? With Cacao nibs! Cacao nibs are cocoa beans you can buy which are cracked, fermented and damaged into items. Dr. Mark Burhenne from Ask the Dentist has an awesome recipe for DYI toothpaste. Get that blender out and make your personal toothpaste.
For those who love chocolate however don’t actually need to to be a DYI’er there’s a chocolate toothpaste referred to as Theodent (hyperlink is an Amazon affiliate hyperlink!). All of the comfort of a yummy paste with out the mess. And it prevents cavities.
Brush twice day by day for 2 minutes, spit and don’t rinse after brushing. Permit the remnants to stay in your mouth and in your enamel. Chocolate toothpastes for the win!
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Comfortable World Chocolate Day July seventh. I see no motive to not have a good time day by day with a small sq. of darkish chocolate. Right here’s to stopping cavities, wholesome gums, oral well being and wellness together with a contented coronary heart!
Cheers to chocolate!
Yum!
Warmly,
Barbara
Lover of darkish chocolate with nuts
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