Chocolate is made from beans of the cocoa tree, Theobroma cacao. The beans can be used to produce a cocoa mass or cocoa liquor. The liquor can then be used to make cocoa butter and cocoa cake, which can be formed into a powder. Combining the liquor with cocoa butter, vanilla and sugar can make chocolate. Combining this with milk can yield milk chocolate. Other forms of chocolate can be dark, or "bittersweet." This chocolate contains little to no added sugar and a percentage of cocoa solids of 60% or greater. Chocolate can be a tasty and healthy addition to your body. However, it may also trigger some ailments, such as headaches.
Source of Antioxidants
Dark chocolate is a good source of antioxidants. Antioxidants act to protect your body from free radicals, harmful agents that can invade your body and cause infection, illness and cellular damage. Therefore, antioxidants can increase your body's ability to combat ailments. The darker the chocolate is, the higher it is in antioxidants. According to the University of Michigan Health System, milk chocolate is not a good source of antioxidants because the milk binds to the antioxidants and makes them unusable by your body. If you consume dark chocolate, you should also be careful not to consume it with milk products.
Migraines
Dark chocolate contains a chemical called tyramine that may cause migraines, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Research is inconclusive, and people may react to tyramine differently, with some not experiencing any migraines when consuming dark chocolate. You should monitor your own reaction to see if it has an effect on you.
Mood and Cognition
Eating chocolate may play a role in improving mood, which is helpful for those suffering from depression. Chocolate can increase serotonin and endorphins in your brain, two chemicals that play a role in a healthy mood and feelings of pleasure. Therefore, you may feel happy or peaceful when you eat chocolate. In addition, according to the University of Michigan Health System, a regular intake of dark chocolate has been linked to improved cognitive performance in the elderly.
Weight Gain
MayoClinic.com cautions that you consume chocolate in your diet in moderation. Commercial chocolate contains fat, sugar and calories. Eating too many calories can cause you to gain weight and weight gain is associated with heart disease, diabetes and a high blood pressure. MayoClinic.com recommends that you choose dark chocolate with 65% or higher cocoa content and eat less than or equal to 3 oz. per day to gain antioxidant benefits while keeping the calories in control.
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