CHEMICALS GALORE
Let’s look at exactly what’s inside this tasty treat. Several compounds in the cacao bean belong to a group of chemical compounds called alkaloids. Alkaloids occur naturally in many flowering plants. (Alkaloids can be synthesized in labs, too.)
An alkaloid structure can get pretty complicated, but alkaloid molecules always have a ring structure with at least one nitrogen atom. Nitrogen is an element that plants need for photosynthesis. You know a chemical compound is an alkaloid if the name ends with ‘-ine.’
Alkaloids are in a category called psychoactive drugs. “Psycho” means the mind. So, these drugs affect mental processes. This brain-stimulating property is well known. Alkaloids are used in many medicines. Other alkaloids are nicotine, codeine (used in some cough medicines), and atropine (prescribed for people with slow heart rates).
Chocolate has two main alkaloids— caffeine and theobromine (theeoh-BRO-mine). Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, so it helps people stay alert. Theobromine is used in medicines to lower blood pressure. It can be toxic, which means poisonous. Dogs and cats are very vulnerable to theobromine. At one point, theobromine was even investigated as a poison to decrease coyote populations.
Chocolate also contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help delay damage to our cells. They protect cells by removing free radicals and unstable molecules. Catechin (KA-teh-kin) is the main antioxidant in chocolate. Interestingly, cacao beans have a higher catechin content than green tea leaves. You might recognize other examples of antioxidants—vitamins A, C, and E.
Denne historien er fra October 2019-utgaven av Faces - The Magazine of People, Places and Cultures for Kids.
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Denne historien er fra October 2019-utgaven av Faces - The Magazine of People, Places and Cultures for Kids.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Animal Central
From golden frogs to big cats to colorful birds, the national animals of Central America represent the geography and cultures of the region. For a quick sampling of creatures plain and beautiful, common and rare, read on.
31 Countries Biosphere
The Trifinio Fraternidad Biosphere Reserve is located at a spot where El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras converge. A biosphere is the layer of planet Earth where life exists.
THE LEGEND OF THE QUETZAL BIRD
A Mayan Tale retold by Pat Betteley illustrated by Amanda Shepherd
Semana Santa GUATEMALA'S HOLY WEEK
What if Easter preparations meant dyeing sand, collecting pine needles, and staying up all night to work on an art project that you knew would be ruined the very next day? Well, welcome to Guatemala’s Semana Santa, or Holy Week.
ME OH-MAYA!
The Maya are groups of people who live in parts of Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. Their ancestors created a great society. At its peak, from 600-900 C.E., the Maya civilization was more advanced than its neighbors in the Americas.
Playing Games Honduras-style
Would you play the same games in Honduras that you do in the United States? You might. Children in Honduras enjoy many of the same games North Americans do. They go fishing and shoot baskets. They play sandlot baseball—called bate (BAH tay). They fly kites and ride bikes. Their parents may go horseback riding or play golf or tennis.
LIVING A LONG LIFE IN THE Blue Zone
Most people would like to live as long a life as possible. No one really knows why some people live longer than others, but did you know that where you live can play a big part in how many years you’ll be alive? If you live in a Blue Zone, chances are that you will live much longer than people in other parts of the world.
ATTENTION WORLD: Belize Saves Their Coral Reef
Sea turtles float in clear waters, colorful corals hug the ocean floor, and aquatic animals glide among the mangrove roots. Welcome to the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, the second-largest coral reef in the world (Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is number one). Several years ago, this reef was in crisis, heading toward destruction. But the people of Belize fought back to save their reef’s health.
The Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a 51-mile long canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
This is Central America!
It’s time to visit Central America. But first, it helps to know exactly where Central America is. Despite its name, it is the southernmost part of North America, which can seem a little confusing. It makes up most of the isthmus dividing the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. An isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses and has water on both sides.
