Is chocolate something important to include in your diet? Most of us are quite willing to make chocolate a regular feature of our diet. In fact, people have hinted that chocolate may have health benefits since the 17th and 18th centuries.
Today, chocolate is considered so staple in our diet that it is even included in army food rations.
We may love chocolate, but is it really good for us? Many scientists and researchers have given their opinion, with mixed results.
Of course, a certain degree of cynicism surrounds these studies, since many of them are backed by the chocolate industry. But there have been some interesting studies related to chocolate and its benefits. Scientists at Japan’s Osaka University conducted a study to see if chocolate is helpful in preventing tooth decay and, as a result, bad breath. Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, and the shells of the beans appear to contain an antibacterial agent that helps prevent plaque.
Although the shells are usually thrown away in the typical chocolate bars
production, confectioners may add them back to try to make the chocolate more tooth-friendly. Of course, even if the bean shells are put back into the chocolate, they won’t stand a chance of fighting tooth decay caused by the chocolate’s high sugar content.
Another study, conducted by Professor Carl Keen, a Californian scientist, was conducted to find the health benefits of chocolate. One theory is that chocolate may actually help fight heart disease. Chocolate contains flavonoids, a chemical that thins the blood and ultimately helps prevent blood clotting. You may have heard of similar dietary studies, for example the one on red wine, which is said to have the same effect.
Again, Professor Kern’s study was funded by the candy maker, Mars, so it lacks some credibility. Harvard University conducted another study that found that if you eat chocolate three times a month, your life expectancy will increase by at least a year. Unfortunately, the same study looked at the effect of overindulgence, which tends to reduce life expectancy. The high fat content of chocolate means that overindulgence can result in obesity, which in turn results in a higher potential for heart disease. Does the type of chocolate provide better overall health?
According to Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, of the University of Cologne, Germany, he and his colleagues found that dark chocolate lowers blood pressure (unlike white or milk chocolate). Unfortunately, the benefits of dark chocolate do not apply to everyone.
According to researchers, eating dark chocolate lowers blood pressure, if you’re a certain age and likely to suffer from mild to high blood pressure. In a perfect world, chocolate would be a healthy option along with the nutrients found in spinach, but unfortunately that’s not the case.
Chocolate may have some potential health benefits, but chronic excess will lead to much more serious health risks. Chocolate is one of life’s pleasures that should be appreciated, not overindulged.