Chocolate is made from the beans of the cocoa tree, Theobroma cacao. These beans are fermented, dried, roasted and ground to produce a cocoa mass and cocoa liquor. The mass and liquor are then further processed to yield chocolate products such as cocoa butter, cocoa bake, cocoa powder and chocolate. Chocolate can be healthy as long as you monitor how much of it you eat.
Source of Flavonoids
Chocolate is a good source of flavonoids. Flavonoids act as antioxidants, substances that protect your body from free-radical damage. Free radicals are harmful agents that invade your body and cause cellular damage, infection and illness. According to the Dietitians of Canada, if your body lacks antioxidants, you are at increased risk for high LDL, or bad, cholesterol, a condition that can damage your arteries and reduce the ease of blood flow in your body.
Linked to Migraines
According to the University of Michigan Health System, dark chocolate may trigger headaches in some people. This is because dark chocolate contains tyramine, a substance that has been associated with the onset of migraines in some people. Research is not conclusive. To see if dark chocolate has this effect on you, you should monitor your own intake. Dark chocolate is a form of chocolate that contains at least 60 percent of cocoa solids and little to no added sugars. It is also referred to as "semisweet" or "bittersweet."
Choosing Milk or Dark
To gain increased health benefits, you may want to choose dark chocolate over milk chocolate. Milk chocolate can bind to antioxidants, making them unavailable for your body to use. You should also be careful not to consume dark chocolate with milk or products that contain milk. Also, when choosing dark chocolate for its antioxidants benefits, you should choose products that are as dark as possible. According to the University of Michigan Health System, flavonoids contribute to the pigment of the chocolate, and therefore a darker color indicates a higher content of antioxidants.
Calories and Fat
Despite the health benefits of chocolate, it can contain a high number of calories and a lot of fat. The Dietitians of Canada suggests you consume chocolate in moderation as part of a balanced diet. The University of Michigan recommends one serving of 1 oz. per day, or up to 7 oz. per week, as a healthy intake.
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