Heavy Metals in my Chocolates!

You do celebrate each moment of your rejoicing with a piece of easily available chocolate. How much is beneficial and how does the consumption help?

I am seeing the consumption of chocolates and chocolate based products going up. It can be for a celebration or to get out of the nasty irritating mood swing!

Before I tell you why your favorite chocolate can be hazardous, hear me out about the good things!

While reading about the consumption of more and more chocolates and how people have got addicted to them, came across an article in mdpi.com

This article talks about consumer behaviour and consumer purchasing behaviour in detail with the method of study.

The origin of Chocolates

It is believed that the origin of chocolate dates back to the Mayan civilization. Cocoa, a powerful ingredient used in chocolates was derived from the Cacao plant, which was considered to be very sacred during that period.

Eating Chocolates- Why do I feel happy?

 As you eat a piece, the smooth buttery Cocoa cream melts in your mouth and brings in a satisfying feeling and a breath of freshness. The satisfaction which you derive is always equated with eating chocolates !!

To put it in simple terms eating a piece of chocolate –

• Boosts sugar level in the blood
• Elevates the happiness hormones in the brain because of the presence of plant-based chemicals in a piece of it.

The brain releases Four different hormones which are closely related to Happiness

Let me name the four important brain hormones and call them ‘friendly hormones with a similar goal’!

1. Serotonin, one of the four brain chemicals released to bring in a feeling of joy
2. Endorphins, the chemicals which can reduce stress and bring pleasure  
3. Oxytocin helps in socializing and in showing affection towards fellow human beings and pets. Don’t you think this is nothing but an exhibition of belongingness with an inclusiveness ?
4. Dopamine acts in response to the elevated glucose level and the release of the above-mentioned friendly hormones. The dose of Dopamine released into your bloodstream, makes you experience the feeling of contentment.

Chocolates make you consume them more and more:

• Look, when you consume chocolates, you will have a surge of Enkephalin, a brain chemical. This natural chemical leads to cravings for more and more. This craving, in turn, leads to over consumption with unmindful eating. This is more like ‘the want and the reward chase’ in a loop

Negative consequences of eating chocolates on an everyday basis or in large quantities

• Chocolates can trigger your Acne if you suffer from comedogenic skin healthline.com
• Calorie-dense chocolates Increase your body weight to a greater extent because of their high saturated fat content. This is only if you are a binge eater !!!
• Can trigger blood sugar level in people with diabetes
• Can heighten brain alertness and lead to episodal insomnia (only at the time of consumption) and make you go restless
• Basically, they lack bigger nutritional benefits unlike vegetables and fruits. Make a smart switch !!
• Do you think they can satiate the biting hunger anytime and are good? As you know, satiation of hunger should be done away with a good consumption of balanced food, not with chocolates.
• Can promote faster tooth decay in all age groups and make you visit your dentist more often ( the residual sugary, buttery layer of chocolates can do more harm to your teeth)
• Reaching the moon of happiness is like a snap. But, shedding the extra calories can drive your patience beyond threshold

Should you be cautious before eating chocolates?

• Certainly, you should think about the quantity and the time of the day before consuming a bar of chocolate
• Pay attention to the label !
• In recent times, seepage of heavy metals in the most popular brands has made news and has alerted consumers when choosing one. Make your survey about this to know the brands! asyousow.org
• After knowing a few facts which I have mentioned, to tell your family,also read ‘does my chocolate contain heavy metal’? consumerreports.org

What is behind your addiction to chocolates?

• Hey, it is the easy accessibility across the counter which doesn’t need any prescription to buy the mood booster
• Your fancy eating habit ! Chocolates lure you with their fancy colour, flavour, shape and size and packaging!
• The surge of happiness is instantaneous because of the presence of stimulating Phytochemicals. They are Tryptophan, Phenylethylamine, caffeine, and Theobromine in fractions.
• If you have heard from advisers about their properties in normalising blood pressure and mood, you tend to go hunting for one

               Nevertheless, eating Chocolates in moderation is a wholesome reward!

After reading through the article, do you want to stay as a perpetual chocolate lover taking your occasional bite, or to stay as a binge eater?

Pseudo Aristocracy