Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate Natalija Miller Get Your Daily Dose of Chocolate: The Darker, The Better! It has been reported that there are certain types of bacteria located within the human stomach that will actually ferment chocolate into heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory compounds. At the 247th National Meeting Exposition of the American Chemical Society, hosted at the Dallas Convention Center this last March, this conclusion was drawn and presented. Maria Moore who is surprisingly enough, an undergraduate student working on this research stated that two different types of microbes live within a person’s stomach. There are good ones like â€Å"Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria†, which help to break down the chocolate, and then there’s the not so great ones such as some forms of Clostridia and E. coli, which have been known to not only produce inflammation, but also to potentially cause â€Å"gas, bloating, diarrhea and constipation†. She notes that, â€Å"When you eat dark chocolate, they [the good microbes] grow and ferment it, producing compou nds that are anti-inflammatory†. These researchers from Louisiana State University, led by John Finley, Ph.D., are the first to be conducting a study about dark chocolate’s effects on the multiple bacteria that reside within the stomach. It was said that when the compounds are absorbed, they effectively reduce the possibility of a stroke in later years by lessening cardiovascular tissue inflammation. By testing a total of 3 different types of cocoa powder in a mock digestive tract composed of â€Å"modified test tubes† used to mimic normal digestion, these researchers, â€Å"subjected the non-digestible materials to anaerobic fermentation using human fecal bacteria†. The main ingredient in chocolate, the thing that makes chocolate, chocolate cocoa powder, contains an abundance of polyphenolic compounds (antioxidants) catechin and epicatechin being two prominent examples and dietary fiber in a relatively small amount, both of which are â€Å"poorly dig ested and absorbed†. Finley then explained that, â€Å"In our study we found that the fiber is fermented and the large polyphenolic polymers are metabolized to smaller molecules, which are more easily absorbed. These smaller polymers exhibit anti-inflammatory activity†. Also, polyphenols found in the stomach may be converted or transformed to reduce inflammation by joining together prebiotics and cocoa powder fiber, increasing one’s overall health. Prebiotics can be defined as complex carbohydrates that cannot be broken down and digested, but the good bacteria in the stomach like to â€Å"eat† them. Finley then went on to say that, â€Å"When you ingest prebiotics, the beneficial gut microbial population increases and outcompetes any undesirable microbes in the gut, like those that cause stomach problems†. This article ended with a note on how dark chocolate could prove to be even more beneficial if combined with things like pomegranate, acai berry or other solid fruits (American Chemical Society, 2014). As far as how this concept pertains to the things that we have talked about in class this past year, we may need to dive a little deeper into the process than this article goes. Because we have yet to really learn anything about physio-chemistry which is where a vast majority of these concepts apply we’re going to have to talk in rather general terms. Considering the fact that the class is termed, â€Å"General Chemistry†, it would seem reasonable to do just that. First things first, we must consider a lab that was done rather early on in the year. While discussing solubility in class, a lab was done in which a certain solution was suspended in a test tube, combined with another solution and then heated until a solid was produced. This process formed something called a ‘precipitate’. Precipitate is define in the dictionary as, â€Å"to cause (something solid) to become separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process† (referring to the proc edure) or merely as a â€Å"a substance precipitated from a solution† (the solid itself) (Merriam-Websters online dictionary, n.d.). The other concept worth taking note of is thermodynamics. We have discussed Gibbs Free Energy in class these past few weeks. This too plays a role. A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson, the compilers of Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the Gold Book), refer to a process called Ostwald Ripening a process in which small, solid particles in a liquid compound are taken out of solution, while the dissolved species residing on the outside of those larger particles undergo redeposition. This process is one of the key underlying contributors to digestion. Food enters the stomach which is suspended (allowing the effects of gravity) placed in a solution of hydrochloric acid, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride (gastric acid) (Stewart, 1981), heated by the body, and then, through Ostwald Ripening, the food comes out as a larger, â€Å"purer/cleaner† (American Chemical Society, 2014), precipitated substance . One of the reasons why this process goes over so smoothly is because, â€Å"smaller particles have a higher surface energy, hence higher total Gibbs energy, than larger particles, giving rise to an apparent higher solubility† (McNaught Wilkinson, 1997). These concepts are important to take note of, with respect to the article about how great dark-chocolate is for a person’s overall health, because in order to understand how the chocolate is broken down and absorbed, there needs to be a foundation for how the process works in general. Understanding that the substance will dissociate in the stomach and the essentials for that operation, will open up a better foundation for someone to apprehend what the article was stating. The researchers concluded that chocolate contains two poorly digested materials. After the brief discussion on what digestion is, it can determined that chocolate has certain substances that cannot be precipitated. What then does the body do with what it cannot digest, or break down? Well, the answer according to the article is that they are â€Å"eaten†, fermented, metabolized and then absorbed by bacteria. In the case of cocoa powder, the products of this process have anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce the risk of stroke and stomach problems (American Chemical Society, 2014). Even though all the information on digestion was not included in this article, I thought what they did include was sufficiently put together, but in my personal opinion, to anyone who isn’t already knowledgeable about the subject in at least some capacity, would walk away from the article thinking nothing more than, â€Å"Sweet, dark-chocolate is good for me. I should eat more of it.† While this article is not necessarily promoting such action, it’s not opposing it either. The information, however, seems to be geared towards those who do, in fact, have an already established foundation for this type of material. I thought that the article was very reader-friendly and tried to give anyone curious enough to read about it a basic overview of the study, but I was ultimately left questioning more than I was before reading it. Because of what I have learned about thermodynamics, solubility and precipitation, I have to wonder a couple of things. For instance, how do good bacteria â€Å"eat† away the complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber and then ferment it? Is the process drastically different than digestion? What sort of heat is needed for that reaction to occur? I am interested in how, at the end of each process both digestion and fermentation/metabolization nutrients from the substance eaten are absorbed. How is the process of events different for each reaction? I have to wonder how these compounds have anti-inflammatory properties after absorption. What do those bacterium do to the dark-chocolate’s components, and ultimately, why isn’t the bacteria digested or fermented? Does it have to do with what reactions occur within the stomach? That would my best guess. These are all questions that I ask myself now because general chemistry has taught me a lot about reactions, what will react, what won’t and in what capacity. Because of that, I am left wondering more about what it is exactly that is happening in my stomach, not only when I eat dark-chocolate, but any time I put food in my mouth. How does our body know how to process certain foods? This concept is very interesting, and I have general chemistry to thank for that. Works Cited American Chemical Society. Press Room. (2014, March 18). The precise reason for the health benefits of dark chocolate: mystery solved. Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2014/march/the-precise-reason-for-the-health-benefits-of-dark-chocolate-mystery-solved.html McNaught, A. D., Wilkinson, A. (1997). Ostwald ripening. Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the Gold Book). Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications. precipitate. n.d., In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precipitate Stewart, P. A. (1981). Chapter 1: 1.5 Other Bodily Fluids. How to understand acid-base: a quantitative acid-base primer for biology and medicine. New York: Elsevier.

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The Constructive Unfair Dismissal System Free Essay Example, 3000 words

The implication of the Western Excavating case is that the courts are leaning towards the contractual test and had, in effect, narrowed down the application of constructive dismissal to circumstances that are relevant to the employment contract. The decision was, however, qualified by Lawton LJ when he stated: I do not find it either necessary or advisable to express any opinion as to what principles of law operate to bring a contract of employment to an end by reason of an employer s conduct. Sensible persons have no difficulty in recognizing such conduct when they hear about it Lay members of the tribunal so not spend all their time in court and when out of court they may use, and certainly will hear, short words and terse phrases which describe clearly the kind of employer of whom an employee is entitled without notice to rid himself. This is what [constructive dismissal] is all about, and what is required for the application of this provision is a large measure of common sense . In addition, subsequent cases had proven that the application of the reasonableness test had not, after all, been totally obliterated by the Western Excavating case. We will write a custom essay sample on The Constructive Unfair Dismissal System or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

Environment Resource - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1195 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2018/12/15 Category Environment Essay Type Research paper Level High school Tags: Experience Essay Nature Essay Did you like this example? In my live I have dreamed of becoming a very great person in Nation. From what I read I understand. One of my mentors told me that with passion you always do perfect things. My interest in environment and resources is realistic. With all the skills and knowledge I have, its my duty to apply on the field and also help other nations in managing the environment. The paper basically talks about my interests in my field of study. Why this program? When I joined my high school, I took part in the program called the million trees project. Under this program, I went with my classmates to Inner Mongolia where we planted 200 trees. I never thought sandstorms could be so scary until we met one on my trip. The sandstorm trapped our bus for some hours on the road, we could see nothing around and we could not get out of the bus. I imagined how people feel about it when they live in such a place with sandstorms everywhere. After participation in this program, I realized that we can change our environment for a better living if we make an effort in the transformation and I developed a deep interest in the field of environment because I needed a change. Planting trees and saving water during shower are simple methods that show an effort in changing our environment.   I realized that people can change the environment to a better situation if everyone can make an effort to do that.   Therefore, I decided to make the environment better t hrough my own way, to be a person who can stimulate the interest or action of peoples pro-environmental attitude and make our earth better. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Environment Resource" essay for you Create order I am really interested to get deeper in this field to learn more and apply the knowledge that I have acquired from different subjects in solving environmental problems. When first I saw the requirements for my major in college, I was confused why this major need to know so many different things, including physics, chemistry, policy, biology, etc. Nevertheless, I enjoyed learning these varieties of subjects and really felt proud that I could know so much in one major. It feels great to combine different things I learned to solve a single complicated issue. This shows the many ways of killing a rat. RESEARCH INTEREST I have designed a research project with one of my professor, Susan Handy, on one of the most popular issues in China: the serious haze problem. The proposed research is aimed at finding out how air quality issues can affect peoples pro-environmental actions, which can help the policymakers to design better policy to solve the haze problem in China. I proposed the design with a proportionate stratified random sampling, which makes the survey much more convincing. (I was interested in investigating the relationship between the society and the natural environment, and how can peoples action effect future environmental management and policy. If most people believe that their action can help to solve some environmental issues, I believe current policies can work better). RESEARCH EXPERIENCE I have worked with a team to help our colleges energy conservation office to save energy by designing a proposal to reduce the energy usage of the buildings on campus. I was elected as the team leader. As a team, we had different thoughts and ideas, which made the cooperation uneasy. It was not my expectation that it could be this hard to be a leader. Two of our group members did not agree with my ideas on how to start this project. However, it was my duty to persuade my teammates and make our cooperation better as a team leader. Personally, I decided to communicate with my teammates after the class and see how they could think about this project. They shared their ideas with me although the ideas were completely different from mine; I decided to take part of their ideas and synthesis with my own ideas. I tried to communicate with them and pointed out the advantages and flaws of both thoughts, and then I called all group members together for generation of a better idea. Finally, all the group members made an agreement which I took as the final proposal for our research. We then split the duties, and everyone in the group could work in his/her favorite area of the research. Personally, I was interested in investigating the renewable energy and how it could be spread out all over the world. This experience was valuable because I learned that it is important to accept every members idea and communicate with them for better results. Without a leader, or lack for cooperation in a team, teamwork cannot be consummated; also, through this research, I learned how energy supported the corporation of a building and saving energy through a simple action could have a bigger impact than I imaged. Another useful example: I designed and conducted a GIS research project with my partner this year, which aimed to discover the relationship between the land cover types and biodiversity of the watersheds in California. I struggled when I found that the data available online was much more complicated than I imagined. Since finding the resource should be part of my work, I did not ask my peer for help. However, the process involved some coding, which I didnt learn before. I finally asked my peer to help me, and we came up with different solutions. I learned some basic for coding from my partner, and she really did an awesome job of taking me through the coding calmly. I knew that it was not possible for me to solve this problem alone, and Im glad that my partner turned up for this research. Definitely, when there are Cooperation and coordination our work becomes more efficient and it provides a shorter path to success. GAP I found an internship in WWF in Shanghai, China. I am really interested in the programs conducted by WWF, including its cooperation with the government, the bank, and other non-profit organization. I think that could be a great and vulnerable experience for me before I go into a graduate school because it is an opportunity for me to practice the skills and knowledge that have acquired in college in perspective of my career. Personally, I need the experience in how the non-profit organizations work to solve environmental issues, venture into their work policies, program conduct and implementation. These are useful experiences for me to work on my future career path and have a clear plan of what I need to accomplish in the graduate school, and a chance to get to know more about different problems in my home county. This may be another research interest: As an international student from China, I am concerned about the environmental problems happened in my home countries, such as air pollution, deforestation, and recycling. I came to America to learn different cultures and to see how different countries deal with their environmental issues in order to find some edification. Therefore, my first proposed research was designed for helping Chinas haze problem, and for my future research path, I still ..