{"id":1881,"date":"2015-06-22T19:30:00","date_gmt":"2015-06-22T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/2015\/06\/chocolate-countdown-number-5-reason-to-eat-chocolate-that-you-never-saw-coming.html"},"modified":"2016-09-19T11:07:13","modified_gmt":"2016-09-19T15:07:13","slug":"chocolate-countdown-number-5-reason-to-eat-chocolate-that-you-never-saw-coming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1881","title":{"rendered":"Chocolate Countdown, Number 5 Reason To Eat Chocolate That You Never Saw Coming"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Because it’s such a pain … reliever.<\/span>

<\/span>Follow @willclower<\/a><\/p>\n


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You love chocolate, and it totally loves you back. Its cocoa creates a birthday party in your brain, with neuroactive agents to boost endorphin levels (natural opiates), stimulate your brain\u2019s cannabis receptors, light up the brain\u2019s pleasure centers, increase serotonin levels, and provide phenylethylamine (PEA, also known as the love drug because it is also released when one falls in love).  <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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Every chocoholic on the planet knows this already, and will quickly tell you that chocolate indeed \u201cbrings the happy.\u201d But there\u2019s another side of this feel-good coin that most people don\u2019t even know they\u2019re benefiting from. In addition to increasing pleasure, chocolate also decreases pain. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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In <\/span>this study<\/span><\/a>,<\/span><\/span> patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD, a condition producing severe pain when walking any distance, for any length of time) consumed 40 grams of 85% chocolate. After only two hours, they were able to significantly increase both their distance and walking speed! <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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Why would chocolate help reduce pain for these patients? First of all, a principle cause of PAD is actually restricted blood flow in the peripheral arteries, and high cocoa chocolate can measurably improve blood flow. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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But another reason for chocolate\u2019s pain reducing properties is that \u2013 like the drugs naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin \u2013 the cocoa in chocolate <\/span>is strongly anti-inflammatory<\/span><\/a>. However, unlike the drugs naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin, chocolate\u2019s side effects do not include \u201cgastric erosions\u201d that can lead to stomach ulcers, and even severe hemorrhage. Just sayin\u2019.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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Inflammation in your body <\/span>causes the feeling of pain<\/span><\/a>. Dark chocolate (85%) decreases inflammation molecules (isoprostanes) before they even start. Think of it as a very delicious version of an aspirin, but one that goes much better with a glass of red wine. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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Yet another cool thing about chocolate is that it can block inflammation molecules from being formed in the first place! <\/span>In this study<\/span><\/a>, experimental animals had just 10% of their diet supplemented with straight, standard cocoa powder for 2 weeks. Even with just this amount, consistently added to their diets, inflammatory molecules were prevented from being created. The authors recommend that cocoa might even be used as a natural therapeutic to help reduce chronic pain. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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What if you aren\u2019t a lab mouse, or don\u2019t have some clinical condition like PAD? What if you\u2019re just a normal person who may exercise and then end up with creaky, achy joints? If that\u2019s you, you may feel that post-movement aches and pains are just something you have to live with. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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But they\u2019re not. The regular consumption of high-cocoa dark chocolate <\/span>can help reduce soreness<\/span><\/a> after exercise. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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Add this to the list of wonderful benefits! Just keep in mind that it\u2019s the cocoa itself that provides all the pain reducing benefits. <\/span><\/div>\n

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So in order for chocolate to become your new favorite pain reliever, treat it as a cocoa-delivery device for your body and choose chocolate that\u2019s as dark as you can enjoy.<\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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For more information: Click here to visit Will Clower’s website. <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Because it’s such a pain … reliever.Follow @willclower You love chocolate, and it totally loves you back. Its cocoa creates a birthday party in your brain, with neuroactive agents to … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[494],"tags":[43,274],"class_list":["post-1881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","tag-chocolate","tag-inflammation"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7Qv5g-ul","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1891,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1891","url_meta":{"origin":1881,"position":0},"title":"AskWill: This Valentines Day learn the difference between chocolate and “chocolate”","author":"Will Clower","date":"February 11, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Will,\u00a0With Valentine\u2019s Day coming up I\u2019m a bit confused. Normally I\u2019d just get chocolates for my wife, knowing that they\u2019re a decadent, not-so-good-for-you treat.\u00a0But lately I\u2019ve heard that there\u2019s good chocolate and bad chocolate. \u00a0Now I feel like I could actually making wrong choice!Dear Confused, As the bearer of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/valentines-day-chocolates2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2616,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=2616","url_meta":{"origin":1881,"position":1},"title":"Chocolate Eating Lessons","author":"Will Clower","date":"February 5, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Eat the dark chocolate:As popular as milk chocolate is, it\u2019s the dark chocolate that\u2019s healthful.What gives chocolate its trove of amazing health properties is the cocoa itself. And, if you had to guess ... how many GRAINS of cocoa do you suppose there to be in standard chocolate confections, Kit\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1950,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1950","url_meta":{"origin":1881,"position":2},"title":"Chocolate and “fat bloom” … it’s not what you think","author":"Will Clower","date":"April 15, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"When you hear these two things together -- \"chocolate\" and \"fat bloom\" -- you're thinking ... oh I see, I eat chocolate and then my fat blooms.Actually, fat bloom is like sugar bloom in your chocolate. All it means is that either the fat or the sugar\u00a0crystallizes together and forms\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/ChocolateStrawberry.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1874,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1874","url_meta":{"origin":1881,"position":3},"title":"Chocolate Countdown, Number 1 Reason To Eat Chocolate That You Never Saw Coming","author":"Will Clower","date":"June 26, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Weight loss. Yes you do have to eat the right kind of chocolate, and no you can't over-consume it with a plunger.\u00a0But if you can manage those two issues (quantity and quality) then this is definitely the number 1 reason to eat chocolate, that you never saw coming!Follow @willclowerIf done\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/EatChocolateLoseWeight-180.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2213,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=2213","url_meta":{"origin":1881,"position":4},"title":"Chocolate Is a Health Food For Your Brain. Here’s why.","author":"Will Clower","date":"December 13, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Great article by Kristen Coveleskie on Chocolate ... and the ways that this wonderful food (isn't it its own food group??) acts like a drug that is actually very, very good for your brain!!(please share this with anyone who loves chocolate ... yeah right!)\u00a0\u00a0While thinking of things to put in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/_HAl9r2q_-j0\/TQWFAPjL9QI\/AAAAAAAAC08\/hmJo9cmDBQs\/s320\/ChocolateStrawberry.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2617,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=2617","url_meta":{"origin":1881,"position":5},"title":"Chocolate Eating Lessons","author":"Will Clower","date":"February 4, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"With an estimated 1.1 billion pounds of chocolate to be sold and consumed this Valentine\u2019s Day, I know I'll make chocolate lovers happy to know that chocolate can actually be a virtue, not a vice.If you find the right kind of chocolate, and consume it using healthful eating behaviors, what\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1881"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1881\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3930,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1881\/revisions\/3930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}