今日競猜：巧克力會使人上癮嗎？
1、會
2、不會
正確答案：2、不會
A love for chocolate can be traced through the centuries. Known as a food of the gods, chocolate was highly prized in the Americas in pre-Columbian times. Native Americans from what is now Mexico served chocolate to European explorers as early as the 100s.
By it self, chocolate has a biter taste, but sugar, transported from plantations in the American and Caribbean colonies made chocolate tasty to the European palate. By the mid-1600s. the popularity of chocolate, sweetened with sugar, had spread throughout Europe.In 1847, milk chocolate was created, and it quickly became popular around the world.
CHOCOLATE AND HEALTH
As an ingredient with a distinctive flavor, chocolate and its main ingredient, cocoa, can fit within a healthy eating plan. They may add a flavor spark that makes nutritious foods, such as milk, more appealing.
Chocolate, a plant-based ingredient, also contains a category of phytonutrients called flavanols that may offer some heart-health benefits according to recent research. Chocolate's stearic acid, a saturated fat with unique qualities, may have a neutral effect on blood cholesterol levels. Chocolate appears to have significant antioxidant potential; dark chocolate has more flavanols than milk chocolate does. Unfortunately, Dutch process chocolate doesn't have these benefits; the alkali used in processing removes flavonoids.
The chocolate challenge? Sugary, chocolate-flavored foods are typically high in calories, added sugars, and fats, and often low in other nutrients. If they crowd out more nutritious foods (if a chocolate bar
replaces fruit in your lunch bag or if you can't control a chocolate urge), their calories may add up. Much of the chocolate consumed is in confectionery and baked products that are fat-laden, too. The bottom line: Enjoy, but go easy on chocolate! .
Myth: Chocolate causes acne.
Truth: That misconception has captured the attention of teens for years. However, hormonal changes during adolescence, not chocolate, are the usual cause of acne.
Myth: Carob bars are more healthy than chocolate bars.
Truth: Actually, a carob bar has the same amount of calories and fat as a similar-size chocolate bar. Carob, a common substitute for chocolate, comes from the seeds of the carob tree, which are differ-ent from cocoa beans.
Myth: Chocolate has a lot of caffeine.
Truth: Chocolate supplies caffeine, but the amount is quite small.Eight ounces of chocolate milk have about 5 milligrams of caffeine, compared with 3 milligrams in 5 ounces of decaffeinated coffee. In contrast, 8 ounces of regular-brew coffee contains about 95 milligrams of caffeine.
Myth: Some people are 「chocoholics」.
Truth: Not true—although some people do have a stronger preference of chocolate than others, perhaps because of its taste, aroma, and texture.While popping chocolate candies may become a high-calorie habit with a pleasurable sensation, eating chocolate itself can’t become truly addictive. Research is exploring any potential role of chocolate in the function of brain neurotransmitters that regulate serotonin and dopamine, often referred to as feel-good substances.
人們對巧克力的熱愛可以追溯到幾百年前。巧克力被稱為神靈的食物，在前哥倫比亞時代的美洲受到高度重視。早在16世紀，來自現在墨西哥的美洲原住民就向歐洲探險家提供巧克力。
巧克力本身有一種苦味，但從美洲和加勒比海地區的種植園運來的糖使巧克力變得美味可口。 到17世紀中葉。 巧克力加糖在歐洲蔓延開來。1847年，牛奶巧克力被創造出來，並迅速在全世界流行起來。
巧克力與健康
作為一種風味獨特的原料，巧克力和它的主要成份可可，可以符合健康的飲食計劃。根據最近的研究，它們可以增加一種風味，使營養豐富的食物，如牛奶，更具吸引力。
一種植物性成份，類植物營養素，稱為黃烷醇會提供一些心臟健康的好處。巧克力的硬脂酸是一種獨特的脂肪，對血液膽固醇水平可能有中性影響。巧克力似乎具有顯著的抗氧化能力；黑巧克力比牛奶巧克力含有更多的黃烷醇。不幸的是，荷蘭加工的巧克力沒有這些好處；用於加工的鹼去除了黃酮類化合物。
巧克力挑戰？含糖、巧克力口味的食物通常卡路裡、添加糖和脂肪含量高，其他營養成分通常較低。如果他們擠出更多營養的食物（如巧克力棒），取代午餐袋中的水果，或者如果你無法控制巧克力的衝動，他們的卡路裡可能會增加。消費的大部分巧克力都是在裝滿脂肪的糖果和烘培產品中。底線是：享受巧克力，但要少吃巧克力！
巧克力會導致痤瘡？
答案是：並不會。這種誤解多年來引起了青少年的注意。然而，青春期的荷爾蒙變化才是痤瘡的常見原因，並不是巧克力。
豆角巧克力棒比巧克力棒更健康？
事實上，豆角巧克力棒和同等大小的巧克力棒含有相同的熱量與脂肪。豆角樹是一種常見的巧克力替代品，它來自豆角樹的種子，而豆角樹的種子與可可豆不同。
巧克力含有大量咖啡因？
真相是：巧克力含有咖啡因，但量很小。
8盎司的巧克力牛奶含有5毫克咖啡因，而5盎司不含咖啡因的咖啡含有3毫克的咖啡因，相比之下，8盎司的普通咖啡含有95毫克咖啡因。
吃巧克力會上癮？
真相是：並非如此。儘管有些人確實比其他人更喜歡巧克力，也是因為它的味道、香氣和質地。雖然吃巧克力糖可能會成為一種高熱量的習慣，帶來愉悅的感覺，但吃巧克力本身並不會真正上癮。研究正在探索巧克力在調節5-羥色胺和多巴胺的大腦神經遞質功能中高的任何潛在作用。
註：本文摘自Roberta L.Duyff,MS,RDN,FAND,CFCS Complete Food&Nutrition Guide