Is Chocolate Good for You? Advantages and Disadvantages of Consuming Chocolate

Few of us can resist the sweet taste of chocolate. It is not uncommon to impulsively buy a whole bunch of candy in a store. After all, chocolate is even part of our most special moments, from weddings and birthdays, to holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day.

While you shouldn’t overdo it and eat chocolate all the time, there are some benefits to indulging in it from time to time. Finally – here’s your excuse to eat it without guilt! It pays to know the pros and cons of consuming chocolate. We always want to make the best decision when it comes to our health and well-being.

What Are the Benefits of Consuming Chocolate?

Although we rarely hear about them, there are a couple benefits of enjoying a piece chocolate – but don’t expose these secrets to your children just yet! It is necessary to eat sweets in moderation, but for many it is a huge challenge (believe it or not, for me too). But let’s focus on the positive – there are five benefits to eating chocolate:

It lowers blood pressure. Research has shown that consuming mainly dark chocolate significantly lowers blood pressure, which is extremely important as we age. That’s why a cup of delicious hot chocolate will definitely not kill you!

It improves blood flow. Think of your circulatory system as a network of highways that carry blood to your heart. This is important for several reasons as it not only ensures the proper functioning of your vision but also contributes to the health of your vital organs (heart, kidneys, lungs, liver and spleen). The good news is that you can easily improve your blood circulation by consuming dark chocolate.

It reduces the risk of heart disease. Studies have shown that people who eat dark chocolate more than five times a week reduce their risk of heart disease by as much as 57%. Cocoa beans act as antioxidants and are an excellent source of iron and zinc, which keeps your heart strong.

It helps you relax. If you’re stressed, treat yourself to a serving of dark chocolate! People who eat a lot of dark chocolate feel much calmer and happier. However, if you are not hungry, the smell of chocolate alone should be enough to make you feel better! Crazy, isn’t it?

It clears your mind. Over the years, we put more and more emphasis on brain exercise to maintain brain sharpness. Dark chocolate can help you with this, too! People who consume it significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline. At the same time, dark chocolate also helps maintain attention and concentration.

Is Chocolate Bad for You?

Here’s where you let the kids listen in, as they may find it easier to understand why chocolate is simply not suitable for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here are five disadvantages of eating chocolate:

Weight gain. By consuming chocolate, rich in fats and sugars, it is possible to gain as much as 2 kilograms per month. Doctors warn that being overweight increases the risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, mental illness, and breast or colon cancer.

Dental problems. You’ve probably been told from an early age that sugar harms your teeth. An average bar of milk chocolate can contain up to 425 grams of sugar, while white chocolate can contain as much as 480 grams! So be extremely careful if you like any of these flavours, as added sugar can cause tooth decay and, for many, an unwanted visit to the dentist.

Headaches. Dark chocolate contains caffeine, which means you could get a headache if you have too much of it in your digestive system. Other ingredients such as tyramine, histamine and phenylalanine can cause migraines, which further increase pain. In case you often have a headache after eating chocolate, you may consider consuming smaller amounts of treats.

Allergic reaction. A huge number of people are lactose intolerant and may not even know it. And chocolate is one of the most common triggers of an allergic reaction to lactose due to its milk content. Therefore, in case of lactose intolerance, it is important to read the ingredients of your favourite sweets carefully.

Negative impact on the environment. Just one piece of chocolate has a bigger impact on our planet than you could imagine. Illegal deforestation is considered a major problem in the cocoa industry. In order to increase the production of chocolate, they cut down a huge number of trees. And if that doesn’t seem bad enough to you, you should know that workers get mistreated, too – some farmers are often overworked and underpaid.

How Much Chocolate A Day Is Healthy?

Experts recommend that you consume between 30 and 60 grams of dark chocolate each day, which is considered the best and healthiest type of chocolate. Of course, you shouldn’t eat it all day, every day. And although dark chocolate is the most celebrated, you don’t have to completely avoid milk or white chocolate! But still try to indulge in these sweet treats in moderation.

Now that you know more about chocolate, the question remains – is chocolate healthy? Some sources praise the benefits of dark chocolate, while others warn you to be extremely careful when eating sweet treats. So, the best advice is to eat all types of chocolate, even dark, in moderation. Even the healthiest foods in excess can be bad for you and it’s never good to overdo it. YOU are an expert on your own health, so choose the path to health that suits you best!