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ChocolateGood or Bad for Your Health?By Mirella Levin There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles.
Chocolate has become one of the most popular and well known foods around the world. However, it is still uncertain as to whether or not it is good or bad for your health. There are also different types of chocolate; white, milk and dark. Each of these types could potentially affect the body differently. Until recently, chocolate was always seen as guilty pleasure, but due to recent investigations, chocolate may have a new reputation of actually be good for your health.
Protecting Your ArteriesOne of the main ingredients in chocolate is the cocoa bean which contains some 400 different chemicals. Some of these can have various effects on our bodies and our health. An example of one of these is flavonoids. However, when we refer to these as an ingredient in chocolate they are known as flavonols. These can be found in large quantities in cocoa beans and have many positive attributes. They help reduce the risk of blood clots because they prevent the blood platelets from sticking together and thus forming clots. They can also reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems by preventing fat-like substances from oxidizing and clogging the arteries, which can often lead to a heart attack. Of the three types of chocolate, dark chocolate contains the largest quantities of flavonols.Rich Mix of Beneficial ChemicalsOther substances in cocoa have been known to help the body process nitric oxide which is important for good blood flow and healthy blood pressure. One of the main benefits we gain from consuming chocolate is that is helps keep blood pressure down, increases blood flow and it helps promote a healthy heart. Another positive aspect of chocolate is that it has higher doses of Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) compared to other foods such as blueberries, prunes etc. The ORAC measurement is a way of comparing how powerful an antioxidant is. Chocolate also contains three types of amino acids; tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine. These can all be found in large quantities. Two of the proteins are involved with the release of chemicals adrenaline and dopamine which is why we feel happy and somewhat energized when we eat chocolate.A Natural AnalgesicIt has also been shown that chocolate is a natural analgesic. This means that it lessens pain. There has been a long existing rumor that eating chocolate can help control menstrual cramps by lessening the pain. This has proven to be true for some women and this is because chocolate is an analgesic.Cholesterol - Getting Rid of the Bad and Increasing the GoodDark chocolate is the “healthiest” of the three types as it reduces the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (it is through oxidation that this cholesterol becomes “bad”) and it increases levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. It is suggested that by eating 6.7 grams of dark chocolate a day (or half a bar per week), a person can be at a lower risk of inflammation and cardiovascular disease.The Right Kind - and In ModerationIn conclusion, chocolate has some health benefits but this is only if consumed in moderation. If eaten too frequently or in large quantities, chocolate can lead to obesity and other health-related problems. We can argue that chocolate does contain some chemicals that can promote alertness, lessen pain and promote overall well-being. It has also been shown that dark chocolate will lead to the most health benefits when compared to milk and white chocolate. Basically, the type of chocolate and the quantity consumed determines whether this snack food is good for your health or not.Sources:http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=8326 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080923104408.htm https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/HEALTHbeat_030309.htm
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