Easter Egg Hunts & Chocolate
Next Sunday is Easter Sunday. For my family, this still means an egg hunt, even though my boys are no longer quite so little.
Then a walk with the dog, followed by roast pork, where I have to perfect crispy crackling and fluffy but crunchy roast potatoes!!
Now, I am sure most of you are aware that Dean Holzer, our Principal Osteopath and owner of Canterbury Health Hub loves chocolate. So, this blog is inspired by him.
What Are the Health Benefits of Chocolate?
Did you know that there are actually numerous benefits of chocolate? These include:
- Chemicals called polyphenol could improve ‘good’ cholesterol levels.
- Chocolate improves our mood due to the release of serotonin and endorphins, the feel-good chemicals in the brain.
- Flavanoids in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium (the lining of arteries), causing them to relax, lowering resistance and reducing blood pressure.
- Dark chocolate appears to make arteries more flexible and reduces the stickiness of white blood cells, preventing blood vessels getting clogged up.
- Flavanols can protect against sun damage, improve blood flow to the skin and increase skin density and hydration.
- Flavanols can also improve blood flow to the brain, especially in young adults, improving attention, verbal learning and memory.
- Chocolate behaves like a prebiotic, which encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. The more “good” bacteria in your system, the better your body is able to absorb nutrients, as well as support a healthy metabolism.
Finally, the New England Journal Of Medicine found a link between the amount of chocolate eaten per person and the number of Nobel prize winners in a country’s population. Switzerland had the highest levels of chocolate consumption and the most Nobel laureates.
Ok, these benefits might not apply to all the Easter eggs we eat but if there are some good quality dark chocolates ones in there, we can feel even better eating them!
Wishing all our wonderful patients at CHH a safe and Happy Easter.