What Are The Side Effects Of Milk Chocolate?

Milk chocolate is an enjoyable snack and treat that is enjoyed by many as a guilty pleasure. There are many types of chocolate in addition to milk, including dark, bitter, white and semisweet varieties. Generally, the higher the cacao content of chocolate, such as with dark chocolate, the healthier it is, thanks to increased antioxidants. Milk chocolate generally is not a good source of heart-protective substances and nutrition. Although milk chocolate can be a part of your diet in moderation, excessive consumption might have unhealthy side effects.

Heart Disease

Processed milk chocolate is high in unhealthy fats such as saturated fats. Cocoa beans contain primarily two types of saturated fats, palmitic and stearic acids, as well as one monounsaturated fat, oleic acid. Saturated fats might contribute to hardening of the arteries, which could lead to high cholesterol levels, heart attack or stroke. A 1 oz. serving of milk chocolate has approximately 10 g of fat with 6 g of those from saturated fats. Eat milk chocolate in moderation or substitute dark chocolate in small amounts. Dark chocolate is a source of antioxidants that might help prevent serious illness, cancer and disease.

Weight Gain

Milk chocolate might lead to weight-gain and hinder weight-loss efforts. Increased fat and calories in the diet will contribute to weight gain if calories ingested exceed those burned. Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for several serious health conditions, including diabetes, heart attack and stroke. A 1 oz. serving of milk chocolate has approximately 157 calories and 10 g of fat. A Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar weighs in at 1.55 oz. and has 230 calories and 13 g of fat. It is generally recommended to keep snacks between 150 to 200 calories with less than 5 g of fat as part of a healthy diet plan.

High Sugar Levels

Eating milk chocolate in large quantities leads to a high intake of refined sugars. A 1 oz. serving of milk chocolate has 15 g of sugar. A full 1.55 oz. Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar contains 25 g of sugar, with 22 of those from simple sugars. Sugar is devoid of nutrients and high in calories, and might lead to weight gain and illness such as diabetes. Refined simple sugars increase the production of insulin in the body, which causes blood glucose levels to fluctuate. Shortly after eating foods high in sugar, energy levels crash, leaving you craving more high-sugar foods. This increases you caloric intake and affects your mood and energy levels. Moderate your consumption of milk chocolate by eating a few squares instead of the whole bar as a treat, and avoid snacking on it alone. Healthy foods containing complex carbs and proteins are a better option to maintain blood sugar and energy levels.

Food Poisoining

Milk chocolate could incur a high concentration of lead during its processing, which might lead to mild poisoning. This is a result of the shipping, manufacturing and processing process, when chocolate could be exposed to the toxin. This being the case, it is not necessarily healthier to substitute dark chocolate for milk chocolate, since dark chocolate might actually have a higher lead content due to its increased chocolate liquor content. This is generally not a risk for a healthy adult who consumes chocolate in moderation because the lead levels in chocolate are too low to cause adverse effects. However, if you are pregnant or elderly and living with lead contamination, speak with your physician and avoid eating lots of chocolate.