Dark chocolate do people know why?

chrisleyland314
chrisleyland314 Posts: 39 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Before I start I have a confession I'm no dietitian or fitness guru but, recently I've started to take my nutrition seriously and by doing this I now understand why I need to eat or supplement certain things. I look back and was amazed at how much *kitten* I bought into. Testosterone boosters=*kitten* BCAA not needed if your diet is high in animal protein. And all other heavily marketed supplements that the companies sell. If you want to find out if I'm chatting *kitten* please look through examine.com

Anyway dark chocolate do people actually know why it's good for them? I've recently started having 2 squares of 85% cocoa after my workout with a protein shake and the looks I get is amazing. Just got me thinking do people actually know what is in certain foods and why they take certain supplements. I don't have the time nor the patience to explain myself in the gym but like to vent it here.

Please feel free to say why you take certain supplements. I'm curious.
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Replies

  • Whitezombiegirl
    Whitezombiegirl Posts: 1,042 Member
    Why not? For me it triggers migraines.
  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    You don't need animal protein to get BCAA, there are plant based sources.
  • chrisleyland314
    chrisleyland314 Posts: 39 Member
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »
    You don't need animal protein to get BCAA, there are plant based sources.

    True, what I said was if you eat enough animal protein you don't need to supplement with BCAA.
  • chrisleyland314
    chrisleyland314 Posts: 39 Member
    faramelee wrote: »
    It's a great antioxidant and good quality dark chocolate contains high levels of flavanols which are credited with helping to protect against blood clots and reducing LDL (bad cholesterol). Early experimentation is proving that dark chocolate also improves blood flow to the brain and that cocoa with high levels of flavanols can help to restore the balance of mood enhancing chemicals potentially meaning that it can be beneficial in the treatment of depression, anxiety and even dementia - as I said this is still early days in regards to the experimentation being proven and it is only related to good quality, high cocoa content chocolate and doesn't encourage eating shitloads! 2 squares a day? Why not??? ;)

    Lol you obviously know why to eat it lol! Unless you googled it. But id like to think not ;)
  • williammuney
    williammuney Posts: 2,895 Member
    I eat 500 calories of chocolate most days

    I like it!
  • chrisleyland314
    chrisleyland314 Posts: 39 Member
    @williammuney If it's accounted for why not?! Lol
  • capaul42
    capaul42 Posts: 1,390 Member
    I eat it because if I eat milk chocolate I won't stop at 1 square. I love the taste, though it took a while to get used to it.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    The last time I went to the gym the thing to drink was dirty water in mason jars. I assume it was a cold steeped tea of some kind. *rolls eyes*. Gym rats do look over each other's shoulders and I could see that crowd turning their noses up at real chocolate.
  • Kellikat80
    Kellikat80 Posts: 591 Member
    I eat dark chocolate on a daily basis. I could be addicted. Probably, but that's an addiction I am very happy with. Oh, yum, chocolate makes me satisfied, haha.
  • mkakids
    mkakids Posts: 1,913 Member
    I do not know why people voluntarily eat dark chocolate. That *kitten* is vile.
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    edited August 2016
    What has been touted as the superfood quality of dark chocolate is actually destroyed in the cooking process. It is not superior to milk chocolate. It has fewer calories due to less sugar and that's about it. Eat it if you like it but it's not better for you nor does it have any superfood benefit.

    http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/05/28/410313446/why-a-journalist-scammed-the-media-into-spreading-bad-chocolate-science
  • chrisleyland314
    chrisleyland314 Posts: 39 Member
    @bower47 I'm reluctant to believe that I'm sorry, as no actual studies have been quoted and its journalism. I base my decisions on scientific research.

    http://examine.com/supplements/Cocoa+Extract/
  • bwhitty67
    bwhitty67 Posts: 162 Member
    chrisleyland314 wrote: »
    Before I start I have a confession I'm no dietitian or fitness guru but, recently I've started to take my nutrition seriously and by doing this I now understand why I need to eat or supplement certain things. I look back and was amazed at how much *kitten* I bought into. Testosterone boosters=*kitten* BCAA not needed if your diet is high in animal protein. And all other heavily marketed supplements that the companies sell. If you want to find out if I'm chatting *kitten* please look through examine.com

    Anyway dark chocolate do people actually know why it's good for them? I've recently started having 2 squares of 85% cocoa after my workout with a protein shake and the looks I get is amazing. Just got me thinking do people actually know what is in certain foods and why they take certain supplements. I don't have the time nor the patience to explain myself in the gym but like to vent it here.

    Please feel free to say why you take certain supplements. I'm curious.

    I think you like Dark Chocolate and *kitten*.... took me a minute but I figured they (MFP) used that as a substitute :)
  • Caroline393
    Caroline393 Posts: 71 Member
    I've always loved dark chocolate way more than milk. It's just richer and more satisfying and doesn't leave me feeling icky afterwards. It's just an extra plus that it also has good health benefits too. I love having a square or two of ghirardelli dark chocolate after dinner
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    Hmmm...

    I've never heard of people eating in the gym. Never seen it, either. Although I did once see a candy wrapper in the cup holder of a treadmill the day after Halloween. Seems like kind of a gross place to be eating. Not cool to make a mess on the equipment if you're doing it out in the gym, and kinda nasty to do it back in the changing area, too. My gym's locker room includes the toilet and shower areas and a bunch of benches, countertops and lockers where sweaty strangers sit and drop their dirty drawers. The changing rooms are basically just another version of a public restroom. I wouldn't want to eat in there!

    To each his/her own, I guess. :/
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited August 2016
    Dark chocolate has an intense taste, which makes a couple of squares of it enough to scratch the chocolate itch without needing to eat the whole bar.

    I don't buy into the magical properties of any food. If your diet includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, chances are you are getting enough flavonoids, antioxidants and any other substances you are seeking. Even the Examine page you mentioned admits it's still incomplete and that it's based on preliminary research (can't draw conclusions from those).

    Just looked into (-)-epicatechin, and it appears apple cider has more of it per calorie than dark chocolate and has the added benefit of hydration, which is nice after a workout. So if that's what you're after, consider it. I have also found out I'm getting more than enough of it simply by the fact that I like broad beans.

    No one food has the monopoly on good substances. A balanced varied diet likely has all you need without needing to supplement most things or single any food out as a "superfood". Foods work synergistically together and if you don't eat a particular thing, chances are other foods will fill the gap.

    Edit: a couple of screenshots for comparison - keep in mind you are eating 1 oz (about 28 grams and 180 calories) of chocolate but 1 cup (about 240 grams and 120 calories) of apple cider, so divide by 3.6 for chocolate and multiply by 2.4 for apple cider while comparing the numbers.

    2sztfezyzzt4.pngomtqqekn3c54.png


  • chrisleyland314
    chrisleyland314 Posts: 39 Member
    @bower47 yes I am in it for the flavonoids and also the added bonus of the antioxidants. I eat blueberries and other fruits and vegetables. So you could say I'm getting enough but, in my humble opinion there is nothing wrong with eating more antioxidants and more flavonoids for the increased bloodflow and health benefits. It's also a change from eating another banana and more blueberries for that day. I like to have variety. I appreciate your opinion and value your input on this debate and I do understand some of the claims have been exaggerated by the BS health and fitness websites with the million pop ups. But it does have health benefits that is undeniable so that is why I choose to eat it.
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    chrisleyland314 wrote: »
    @bower47 yes I am in it for the flavonoids and also the added bonus of the antioxidants. I eat blueberries and other fruits and vegetables. So you could say I'm getting enough but, in my humble opinion there is nothing wrong with eating more antioxidants and more flavonoids for the increased bloodflow and health benefits. It's also a change from eating another banana and more blueberries for that day. I like to have variety. I appreciate your opinion and value your input on this debate and I do understand some of the claims have been exaggerated by the BS health and fitness websites with the million pop ups. But it does have health benefits that is undeniable so that is why I choose to eat it.

    Okay.

    I just wanted to point out that it isn't a superior food and should not be touted as such. You like it, you make it fit. Good for you.
  • Qskim
    Qskim Posts: 1,145 Member
    jenilla1 wrote: »
    Hmmm...

    I've never heard of people eating in the gym. Never seen it, either. Although I did once see a candy wrapper in the cup holder of a treadmill the day after Halloween. Seems like kind of a gross place to be eating. Not cool to make a mess on the equipment if you're doing it out in the gym, and kinda nasty to do it back in the changing area, too. My gym's locker room includes the toilet and shower areas and a bunch of benches, countertops and lockers where sweaty strangers sit and drop their dirty drawers. The changing rooms are basically just another version of a public restroom. I wouldn't want to eat in there!

    To each his/her own, I guess. :/

    My old gym had cafe style tables and chairs overlooking the workout area so you could have their supplied breakfast and coffee. Couple of couches and a daily newspaper. All female gym.
  • feisty_bucket
    feisty_bucket Posts: 1,047 Member
    There are tons (8000+) of different polyphenols in foods. Chocolate has some, blueberries have others, coffee has different ones, etc. They're useful because of the hormesis effect, IMO (ie: they poke at your body in different ways, causing strengthening responses). The more variety you can get, the better.

    The difference between "milk" and "dark" candy bars is just the ratio of ingredients. It's a sliding scale.

    But if you're going for polyphenol content, you're better off using baking cocoa powder. Goes well dissolved into a hot drink like coffee.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    mkakids wrote: »
    I do not know why people voluntarily eat dark chocolate. That *kitten* is vile.

    Put enough peanut butter on it and it's fine.
  • witchy_wife
    witchy_wife Posts: 792 Member
    capaul42 wrote: »
    I eat it because if I eat milk chocolate I won't stop at 1 square. I love the taste, though it took a while to get used to it.

    This is me. I prefer the taste of milk but can't seem to control myself with it very well. I know that dark chocolate contains things that are good for you so I started switching to dark and I like it a lot now.

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