The Disadvantages Of Chocolates

While chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, has a range of health advantages, from preventing pre-eclampsia, according to the journal "Epidemiology," to protecting your organs and cells against free radical damage, there are a variety of disadvantages to eating chocolates, as well. In addition to nutritional issues that can affect your health, chocolate has other risks, especially when eaten in large quantities.

Fat Content

A 1-oz. serving of chocolates has 9.7 g of fat. As you might know, fat -- along with carbohydrates and protein -- provides the calories in foods. The amount of fat in a serving of chocolate comprises 61 percent of the 143 calories per portion. Eating an occasional ounce of chocolate should not present a problem for your health; however, many people eat far too much. Confine fat intake to 20 percent to 35 percent of the calories you eat --- going over the suggested limit regularly can result in weight gain, one of the disadvantages of chocolates. Much of the fat in an ounce of chocolates comes from saturated fat: 5.7 g. Eating more than 15 g of saturated fat per day regularly -- and consuming 3 oz. of chocolates would bring your saturated fat intake above the recommended limit, so be sure to limit the chocolate in your meal plan -- can clog your arteries and increase your risk of coronary artery disease.

Sugar Content

Sugar is harmful to your body in large quantities, causing weight gain and putting you at risk of cavities and other dental problems. An ounce of chocolates contains 14.6 g of sugar. The American Heart Association recommends limiting sugar to 6 tsp. to 9 tsp. per day, the equivalent of 25.2 g to 37.8 g. Eating just 2 oz. of chocolate meets or goes over the suggested sugar ceiling. The sugar in chocolate, in addition influencing your weight and dental health, can cause high blood pressure, as well as general inflammation in your body. This inflammation can take the form of many problems, including arthritis and asthma.

Caffeine Content

Chocolates naturally contain caffeine, and dark chocolate -- often considered the healthier variety -- has more caffeine than milk chocolate in many cases. A 1.45-oz. serving of dark chocolate contains 30 mg of caffeine, while 1.55 oz. of milk chocolate has 11 mg of caffeine. The Canadian government recommends limiting caffeine to 45 mg per day for children, although the United States has issued no guidelines. Caffeine can be addicting. Other symptoms could include anxiety, sleep problems, headaches, loss of focus and gastrointestinal problems.

Other Possible Reactions

Caffeine, an ingredient in chocolate, can trigger headaches for some people; chocolate also contains theobromine and phenolic compounds, including tyramine, that may contribute to the occurrence of migraines. Research on whether chocolate causes headaches, including migraines, is mixed, however; information presented at the 2009 International Headache Congress noted that chocolate's anti-inflammatory agents can reduce symptoms of migraines. If you've had kidney stones, you may want to avoid consuming chocolate, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center; a diet high in calcium -- milk chocolate, in particular, provides calcium -- can encourage your body to manufacture additional stones, as can eating high-fat foods.