Chocolate is a tasty treat enjoyed by many. According to the World Atlas of Chocolate, chocolate is North America's favorite flavor. We even have theme parks inspired by chocolate. Some people are worried about health risks like obesity and tooth decay that might be associated with high chocolate consumption. However, there are several reasons many people should still enjoy chocolate.
Preventing Disease
One of the key benefits of eating chocolate is that it may help protect you from cancer and heart disease. Chocolate contains flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from cellular damage that can lead to cancer and heart disease. According to a study in the September 2010 issue of "Clinical Nutrition," individuals who ate chocolate five or more times a week were less likely to have heart disease compared with individuals who reported not eating chocolate.
Lower Blood Pressure
Another reason to eat chocolate is that it can reduce your blood pressure. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is related to stroke, coronary heart disease and chronic kidney disease. Diet and medication are important factors for controlling hypertension. A research study in the June 2010 "American Journal of Hypertension" showed that consumption of dark chocolate may help lower blood pressure.
Dark Versus Milk
According to the World Atlas of Chocolate, most Americans prefer milk chocolate over dark chocolate; however, dark chocolate has more health benefits. Milk chocolate may actually interfere with chocolate's antioxidant properties, making it less healthy. If you are looking to eat chocolate as a way of inducing health benefits, consume dark chocolate and don't wash it down with a glass of milk.
Conclusions
Chocolate lovers have some reason to rejoice. Consuming chocolate can be part of a healthy lifestyle. However, you must remember not to over indulge because a chocolate candy bar contains a lot of calories. Consume chocolate in the context of a healthy diet and be sure you stay within your total calorie goals. In addition, chocolate does contain small amounts of caffeine, so if you have kidney stones or another condition that restricts your caffeine intake be sure to talk with your doctor.
References
- World Atlas of Chocolate: Chocolate Consumption
- American Journal of Hypertension: Low vs. higher-dose dark chocolate and blood pressure in cardiovascular high-risk patients.
- Clinical Nutrition: Chocolate consumption is inversely associated with prevalent coronary heart disease: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study.
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