Is Being A Chocoholic A Good Thing?

There is widespread belief that chocolate is not healthy, and that it does not benefit those who consume it. According to some of these rumors, chocolate has a high amount calories which can result to excessive body fats that clog the arteries.

There’s nothing really conclusive about that. For chocoholics out there who cannot survive going for days without their favorite confection, you have to know that eating chocolate in moderation brings about a lot of health benefits. This claim is not just speculation. Several studies suggests that certain chocolates are genuinely good for you.

Benefits for the Chocoholic

Listed below are some of chocolate’s positive effects:

1. Chocolate contains vitamins that are important for proper bodily function. These include vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E.
2. Even with its enthralling velvety texture, chocolate also contains minerals such as potassium, calcium, and iron.
3. Chocolate can reduce the risk of getting heart disease and cancer. The flavonoids in cocoa a basic ingredient of chocolate, cuts down high blood pressure considerably. Flavonoids also help in keeping body fats from obstructing the arteries. Finally, it contains antioxidants that have been known to prevent cancer cells from developing.
4. Nitric oxide in chocolate helps in maintaining normal blood pressure and heart rate.
5. There are studies stating that chocolate brings about blood thinning, similar to the effects of a small dosage of aspirin. This results in lessening the development of clotting. However, you must not consider replacing aspirin with chocolate.
6. Chocolate can brighten up your mood and keep you on a positive mindset. Chocolate has caffeine, Theobromine, tyramine, and phenylethylamine. All of these compounds play a part in fatigue reduction. They also provide an extra boost of energy that can get you through the day.

Even if the only benefit of chocolate is having antioxidants, it would still be a good thing. It means that consuming chocolate on a regular basis is okay. Antioxidants aid in preventing free radicals from harming the body.

Dark Chocolate

As a chocoholic, you must be aware that the healthy chocolate that we are talking about in this article is dark chocolate. The ones that are less healthy and have higher fat content are white chocolate and milk chocolate.

Dark chocolate contains roughly 70% cocoa solids and has less or no sugar added. Since it has less or no sugar, dark chocolate is far less susceptible to heat than milk chocolate. It is also estimated that dark chocolate contains eight times the levels of polyphenol antioxidant when compared with strawberries.

Consuming 50 grams of dark chocolate made of at least 70 percent chocolate solids can supplement your diet with additional iron, potassium, and calcium. So, is being a chocoholic a good thing? Only if you go dark.