What Are Polyphenols?
Polyphenols are compounds found in plant foods that have the potential to promote health. It is found in some common plant foods such as cocoa beans, popcorn, tea, soy, red wine, vegetables and fruits. The ingredient that gives chocolate its unique charm is polyphenols. It is a natural ingredient found in cocoa beans. Compared to other foods, the content of polyphenols in cocoa beans is particularly high. The antioxidant function of polyphenols can prevent these chronic diseases.
Polyphenols
- The ingredient that gives chocolate its unique charm is polyphenols. It is a natural ingredient found in cocoa beans. Compared to other foods, the content of polyphenols in cocoa beans is particularly high.
- Oxidative damage is an important cause of many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and aging. The antioxidant function of polyphenols can prevent these chronic diseases.
- Polyphenols in chocolate are powerful antioxidants. It can inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (LDL cholesterol, or "bad cholesterol" is the "impurity" in the blood. It can cause diseases such as arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction.
- The polyphenols in chocolate can also prolong the action time of other antioxidants in the human body, such as vitamin E and vitamin C, and can promote vasodilation, reduce inflammation and reduce blood clot formation, thereby preventing cardiovascular disease.
- Before the discovery of the New World by Columbus, the Mayans and Aztecs of Mesoamerican civilizations ate cocoa beans for thousands of years. They use cocoa beans as food and traditional medicine to treat fever, sore throat, asthma, palpitations and inflammation.
- In addition to the anti-oxidant effects of polyphenols, according to a January 2008 issue of FASEB (FEDERATION of AMERICAN SOCIETIES for EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY), Israeli researchers have found that eating polyphenols while eating high-fat foods can reduce Threat to human health. This is the first time that this type of compound has been found to be effective in preventing the harmful effects of high-fat food derivatives on the human body.
- Although polyphenols are widely found in plant foods, their content and structure in different foods vary widely. Moreover, the content of polyphenols in plants is affected by many factors, such as the degree of maturity, variety, processing and storage conditions.