Chocolate lovers often eat it, perhaps daily or more than once a day, but there is confusion and controversy regarding the effect of chocolate on health, and whether it is beneficial or harmful to health.
According to what was stated in a report published by EatingWell, there are different forms of chocolate, including white, milk and dark chocolate, and the components of each of them differ, and then there is a variation in the nutritional characteristics of each of them.
A lot of research has been done on milk chocolate and dark chocolate because they contain substances from the cacao plant, which are linked to many health benefits. But white chocolate actually only contains cocoa butter. Research results indicate various health effects of eating chocolate regularly, as follows:
Chocolate
1. Improve heart health
Dark chocolate and milk chocolate contain cocoa solids, albeit in different amounts. Cocoa contains flavonoids, which are antioxidants found in foods such as tea, berries, and leafy green vegetables. Flavonoids provide multiple health benefits, including improving heart health. Since dark chocolate has a higher percentage of cocoa solids by volume, it is also rich in flavonoids. A study found that there was an improvement in lipid profiles and blood pressure when consuming moderate amounts of dark chocolate every one to two days.
A 2017 randomized control trial published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that eating almonds with dark chocolate or cocoa improved body fat profiles.
Chocolate
2. Boost iron levels
According to a 2021 study published in the journal Nutrients, iron deficiency anemia can lead to symptoms including fatigue, weakness, and brittle nails. Dark chocolate is a good source of iron, with a 50-gram serving of dark chocolate containing 6 milligrams of iron. Females ages 19 to 50 need 18 milligrams of iron per day, and adult males need 8 milligrams per day, according to the US National Institutes of Health. But it should be noted that milk chocolate contains only regarding 1 milligram of iron in every 50 grams.
3. The discipline of cognitive functions
In a 2019 randomized controlled trial published in the journal Nutrients, consuming dark chocolate daily for 30 days improved cognitive performance in participants. The researchers attribute the findings to the methylxanthines in dark chocolate.
Negative effects
While there are some potential health benefits of eating chocolate, there are also some potential negative consequences. White chocolate and milk chocolate are high in saturated fat and added sugars. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive consumption of saturated fats and added sugars is linked to higher blood cholesterol and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
A single (50g) bar of milk chocolate contains around 22g of added sugars and 8g of saturated fat, while a 50g bar of white chocolate contains 25g of added sugars and 16.5g of saturated fat.
