The Kind Of Fat Found In Chocolate

High in calories and in fats, it may seem difficult to fathom that something that tastes so delightful could be good for you. But it is true; chocolate, especially dark chocolate, does have its health benefits. Chocolate is a plant-based product, but that is not why it is good for you. Surprisingly, it is the fat.

Saturated Fat

Chocolate has a very high fat contact. Approximately one-third of the fat in chocolate is saturated fat. This fat comes from cocoa butter, according to the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and the least healthy of all fats. A diet high in saturated fats puts you at risk of certain illnesses, including heart disease. This is because saturated fat increases cholesterol levels, which in turn can result in clogged arteries. The strange thing about chocolate that makes it different from other foods is that although it contains saturated fat, eating it does not seem to raise cholesterol.

Stearic Acid

The saturated fat in chocolate does not raise cholesterol, but it does not lower it either. In the case of chocolate, saturated fat is cholesterol neutral. According to Colorado State University Extension, the type of saturated fat that is in chocolate is stearic acid. Stearic acid is a naturally occurring saturated fatty acid, or SFA. Stearic acid is a long-chain SFA, which means that it contains 18 carbon atoms. Despite the fact that it is not a cholesterol-raising SFA, stearic acid is usually grouped with other long-chain SFAs on nutrition labels.

Monounsaturated Fat

Aside from stearic acid, chocolate also contains one-third monounsaturated fat. Monounsaturated fats are the heart-healthy group of fats, so named because they lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol. The type of monounsaturated fat found in chocolate is oleic acid. According to Harvard Medical School's HEALTHbeat newsletter, oleic acid is the same acid that's in olive oil -- the favored oil of heart-healthy individuals. Adding oleic acid to your daily diet in moderation can actually reduce your risk of heart disease.

Palmitic Acid

The final third of the fat in chocolate is palmitic acid. When it comes to palmitic acid, there is some good news and some bad. The bad news, according to the University of Connecticut, is that palmitic acid is a saturated fat that, unlike stearic acid, does raise bad cholesterol. On the other hand, the good fats in chocolate outweigh the bad, meaning that the good fats cancel out the harmful effects of the cholesterol-raising palmitic acid in chocolate.