Eating Chocolate: Pros and Cons?

Question

I gave up chocolate and I know that chocolate is not very good for you, but in what cases can it be good for you??

Answer 1

The Pros:
Antioxidant protection

The reason chocolate gets the ‘thumbs up’ from researchers is because it contains large quantities of antioxidants - chemicals that help to neutralise some of the harmful chemical reactions occurring as part of our metabolism and during exposure to pollutants. In essence, antioxidants stop us going rusty inside. Scientists have found that just 40g of chocolate contains more than 300mg of polyphenols - the same type of antioxidants that give red wine its heart-protecting reputation. And if you like your chocolate dark, you will obtain twice as many polyphenols, similar amounts, in fact, as are found in a cup of green tea. What’s more, the polyphenols present in chocolate are of the super-protective variety known as procyanidin flavonoids. While some of these flavonoids contain just one unit and are classed as monomers, the most protective are those containing two, three or more units, known as oligomers. Yes, you’ve guessed it, chocolate is especially rich in the larger oligomers that can prevent harmful
LDL-cholesterol from becoming oxidised and taken up into artery walls.


The feel-good factor

Eating chocolate makes you feel good. It increases brain levels of several chemicals, including mood-altering PEA (phenylethylamine, related to amphetamine), which produces a mild, confidence-instilling buzz. Chocolate also contains tryptophan - a chemical converted to serotonin in the brain to lift mood and increase euphoria - and theobromine, a stimulant that peps you up. Chocolate is also virtually unique in that it melts in the mouth at body temperature, producing a silky, luscious sensation that adds to its appeal and, according to psychologists, is one of the main reasons why chocolate proves so addictive.

Contains small amounts of caffeine

The amount of caffeine contained in chocolate is around 10 times less than that in the average serving of coffee, tea or cola drinks. In fact, low intakes of caffeine can be beneficial, as they improve fat metabolism, exercise endurance, increase alertness and decrease the perception of effort and fatigue.

The Cons:
Expense

Eating chocolate every day will undoubtedly increase your shopping bill. The BMJ researchers estimated it would cost £3 per week, but that spending more for a premium brand of dark chocolate might be rewarded by improved quality of life.

Calories

Sadly, chocolate packs a lot of calories. Just 100g contains: Milk chocolate 520 kcals, dark chocolate 510 kcals and white chocolate 529 kcalsIt does provide useful amounts of micronutrients, however. For example, 100g dark chocolate contains: 33mg calcium (compared with 220mg for milk chocolate), 89mg magnesium, 2.3mg iron, 0.7mg copper, 4mcg selenium and 1.4mg vitamin E.

Glucose swings

Sweetened chocolate contains lots of sugar, producing glucose swings which, as well as encouraging you to eat more, are increasingly linked with the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes. This is another reason why dark chocolate, which contains the least sugar, is better for you than milk and white chocolate. Low carbohydrate chocolate containing sweeteners such as maltitol, which do not affect blood glucose levels, are also becoming more widely available.

Mood swings

Chocolate that contains a lot of sugar can also cause swings in levels of endorphins - brain chemicals that affect mood. This can, in turn, produce mood swings as well as carbohydrate cravings, one reason why women with pre-menstrual syndrome often crave chocolate before a period, when their endorphin levels are low. Unfortunately, as with addictive drugs, brain receptors eventually become desensitised to the mood-lifting effect of chocolate, so you tend to need more and more to get the same endorphin-raising effects.

Acne

The myth that chocolate can cause acne is not supported by the evidence, which suggests the culprit is hormonal fluctuations rather than dietary components.

Tooth decay

The fermentable sugar present in chocolate has the potential to trigger tooth decay. However, the antioxidants in chocolate may help to offset the acid-producing potential to a certain extent, while the calcium, phosphate and other minerals present especially in milk chocolate may also reduce the harmful effects on teeth.

Including chocolate in your diet

All in all, it seems that, as part of a balanced diet, we might all benefit from eating 100g chocolate per day - but make sure it is dark and expensive!


Eat it after a meal when you are full and less likely to over-indulge.

Eating chocolate after a meal means you can clean teeth and floss soon afterwards - perhaps with a chocolate flavoured toothpaste to prolong the pleasure!

Buy small-sized bars, not family-sized slabs.

Eat with fresh fruit - the renewed craze for chocolate fondues makes this simplicity itself.

Let chocolate rest in your mouth for long enough to melt and coat your taste buds and the roof of your mouth to experience the full range of flavours and textures.

Learn to savour the lingering memory of each bite before immediately devouring the next.

Answer 2

Dark chocolate is actually good for you because it provides antioxidants. The pro about eating chocolate is that it helps some women with soothing their premenstrual craving for chocolate but it can help pack on the pounds as well, con.

Answer 3

If you eat Dark Chocolate it is way lower in fat and is actually good for you. Eat natural chocolate, nothing with high fructose corn syrup, sugar substitutes, or anything that you read on the label and don't know what it is. In moderation, sweets are ok for you to eat, you don't have to cut them out completely.

Really, you only live once, if you like chocolate, go ahead and eat it!

Answer 4

Take out the milk, sugar and unnecessary cr@p and you have healthy chocolate. It's simply a matter of eating the salad w/o the salad dressing. It tastes like shat but it'll be good.

Answer 5

It is good for your heart.They just reported on the news last night a little chocolate is good for you with a stress on the word little.

Answer 6

Dark (bittersweet) chocolate is high in antioxidants, which have numerous health benefits. It also contains monounsaturated fat, the type that helps lower the LDL (bad) cholesterol in your blood.
In moderation, dark chocolate can be good for you.
Any food in excess can be harmful.

Answer 7

dark chocolate has good benifits...make sure it is 70% or higher...mmm so yummy too! You only need half aserving its so rich. The good benifits from dark chocolate are the same as red wine. ;) For more tips come on over to....

Answer 8

Dark chocolate, with its high cocoa content, is a rich source of the flavonoids epicatechin and gallic acid, which are thought to possess cardioprotective properties.

Answer 9

the chocolate, not the sugar content actually good for your heart, it's actually healthy believe it or not, and it give sense of secure, helping to calm you when you're stressed out.

Answer 10

It's good in moderation, along with everything else we love to eat. Other than that I see no problem unless your allergic to it. Than the con could be death.