Chocolate is something dear and delicious to every heart
Chocolate gets a lot of bad press because of the amount of fat and sugar it contains. Eating too much of it can lead to acne, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
It's not all bad news, according to a Trusted Source review of the health effects of chocolate in the Netherlands Journal of Medicine.
The authors point to the discovery that cocoa is the key ingredient in chocolate.
It has changed the way people think about chocolate, and has also researched how it may affect aging, and conditions such as oxidative stress, blood pressure ratios and Atherosclerosis.
Chocolate’s antioxidant content may have a range of health benefits. The higher the cocoa content, the greater the benefits. Dark chocolate may also be lower in fat and sugar, but it’s important to check the label.
Following are the benefits of eating chocolate:
Lowering cholesterol levels
Reducing the risk of heart problems
More research is needed to confirm that eating chocolate can actually improve people’s health.
Also, a chocolate bar doesn’t just contain cocoa. Rather, the benefits and risks of other ingredients like sugar and fat need to be considered. A study in The Journal of Nutrition found that consuming chocolate can help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.
Researchers set out to investigate whether chocolate bars containing plant sterols (PS) and cocoa flavors, (CF) had any effect on cholesterol levels.
The authors concluded: “Regular consumption of chocolate bars containing low-fat diet PS and CF may support cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol and improving blood pressure.” Drinking two cups of hot chocolate daily can help keep the brain healthy and reduce memory loss in older people. Hot chocolate helps improve blood flow to the parts of the brain where it is needed.
Research published in The BMJ shows that consuming chocolate can help reduce the risk of heart disease by up to a third.
Based on their observations, the authors concluded that higher chocolate consumption may be associated with a lower risk of cardio metabolic disorders.
Canadian scientists conducted a study involving 44,489 people. People who ate one serving of chocolate had a 22 percent lower risk of stroke than those who didn’t. And those who ate about two ounces of chocolate a week were 46 percent less likely to die from a stroke.
The results show that eating 100 grams (g) of chocolate per day may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Manufacturers of light, or milk, chocolate claim that their products are healthier because they contain milk, and milk provides protein and calcium. Proponents of dark chocolate point to their product’s high iron content and antioxidant levels.
Here are some examples of nutrients in chocolate:
Nutritional Light (100g) Dark (100g)
Energy 531 kcal 556 kcal
Protein 8.51 grams 5.54 grams
Carbohydrates. 58 grams 60.49 grams
Fat. 30.57 grams 32.4 grams
Sugar 54 grams 47.56 grams
Iron 0.91 mg 2.13 mg
Phosphorus 206 mg 51 mg
Potassium. 438 mg 502 mg
Sodium. 101 mg, 6 mg
Calcium. 251 mg 30 mg
Cholesterol. 24 mg
The darker the chocolate, the higher the concentration of cocoa, and the higher the level of antioxidants in the bar.
However, the nutritional content of commercially available chocolate bars varies, depending on the brand and variety you choose. If you want to be sure about the nutritional content, it’s best to check the label.
Unsweetened chocolate and 100 percent cocoa products are available at some good stores, online, and some grocery and health food stores.
While chocolate has health benefits, it can also have some negative effects.
Weight gain: Some studies show that chocolate consumption is associated with lower body mass index (BMI) and central body fat. However, chocolate is loaded with calories due to its sugar and fat content. Anyone trying to lose weight should limit their chocolate intake and check the label of their favorite product.
Sugar content: Tooth decay is mostly caused by the high sugar content of chocolate
Migraine risk: Some people may experience an increase in migraines when eating chocolate regularly due to cocoa’s, histamine and phenylalanine content. However, research is mixed.
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