Surely many of you cannot live a day without a bar of chocolate. This popular dessert based on cocoa beans literally melts in your mouth, leaving a slightly bitter aftertaste. In today's article, we will try to figure out what is useful for this sweet treat and what a lethal dose of chocolate is for a person.
Chemical composition
This dessert is an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals. It contains a sufficient amount of lecithin, theobromine, polyphenols, flavonoids, tianins and antioxidants.
It is rich in minerals such as iron, phosphorus, magnesium, fluorine, sodium, calcium and potassium. Plus, in its composition there are many different vitamins, including PP, E, B 12 and B 6 .
The benefits of chocolate
The beneficial properties of this delicacy are due to its unique vitamin and mineral composition. Those who want to figure out what a lethal dose of chocolate will probably be interested in that in moderation, it helps to strengthen immunity, normalize the absorption of carbohydrates and reduce the risk of diabetes.
Due to the fact that it contains substances that provoke the production of endorphin and serotonin, it is recognized as the strongest natural antidepressant. Even a small piece of sweet dessert improves mood and increases performance.
Chocolate stimulates the brain, normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and minimizes the likelihood of autoimmune diseases. In addition, it helps prevent blood clots and increases vascular elasticity.
Product harm
Chocolate, the lethal dose of which is high enough, can have not only a positive, but also a negative effect on the human body. Overuse of this product may cause an allergic reaction.
In addition, unscrupulous manufacturers often add a large amount of oxalic acid salts and esters to it. And this is fraught with the development of urolithiasis. Uncontrolled use of this dessert can disrupt the normal functioning of the digestive tract and cardiovascular system.
The main danger of this product is that theobromine is present in its composition. In large quantities, this substance, belonging to the same group as caffeine, stimulates the muscles of the bronchi, increases diuresis and causes the coronary vessels to expand. The lethal dose of chocolate for a person is 10 g for every kilogram of body weight. Therefore, every day it is allowed to eat no more than a third of the tile of a sweet treat.
Product poisoning
Like any other food, chocolate can cause severe intoxication. Poisoning with this dessert causes activation of fungal microflora, functional glycemia, infectious bowel disease, constipation or diarrhea.
The cause of intoxication with chocolate, the lethal dose of which is so high that it is practically impossible to eat it at once, can be a high sugar content, poor quality or expired product.
Sweet treating poisoning is usually accompanied by cutting pains in the lower abdomen, nervous excitement, lethargy, drowsiness, fatigue and severe dizziness. Symptoms of intoxication include increased blood pressure, heart problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
First aid
When the above symptoms appear, you need to find out how much goodies the victim ate. If it approaches a lethal dose of chocolate, then you need to urgently call an ambulance. Before the arrival of doctors, gastric lavage should be done with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This unpleasant, but very effective procedure contributes to the rapid elimination of toxins.
After this, it is advisable to give the victim some kind of sorbent, such as activated carbon, Enterosgel or Polysorb. In some cases, intoxication is accompanied by an increase in body temperature. In such situations, the condition of a person who has eaten an almost fatal dose of chocolate can be alleviated with cold compresses. Thanks to these simple but effective actions, you will help the victim avoid serious complications such as liver or kidney failure.
Chocolate and animals
Despite the strict prohibitions of specialists, many people holding pets often pamper their pets with various sweets. However, they do not realize that their actions cause irreparable harm to the health of the animal. Since chocolate contains theobromine, it can be life threatening to a cat or dog. So, it’s enough for the pussy to eat only 75 grams of this product to go to the next world. The lethal dose of chocolate for dogs weighing about 10 kg varies from 150 to 300 g.
Poisoning with this product in animals is accompanied by muscle cramps, palpitations and excessive urination. A dog or cat becomes restless and begins to breathe heavily. He develops increased thirst, diarrhea and vomiting. In especially advanced cases, chocolate poisoning causes aspiration pneumonia or a heart attack.
Therefore, it is important to remember that theobromine accumulates in the body of animals, sooner or later provoking serious health problems of a pet. Those who want their dog or cat to live as long as possible should never treat them with chocolate.