The health benefits or possible risk of eating chocolate is a controversial topic. Every new study that comes along seems to throw doubt on the study before. Nowhere is this truer than in discussions of the health risks and possible benefits of eating chocolate. The answer may lie in considering the amount consumed!
One major reason that chocolate often makes the news is that it contains a class of phytochemicals called flavonoids and in particular one called epicatechin. Flavonoids are known to have benefits to the circulatory system. This is not in dispute. They are antioxidants, which help remove charged atoms (that can harm cells) from the blood stream.
But from that point, opinions diverge widely. Some experts argue that the presence of those antioxidants is enough to declare that chocolate does have some health benefits. Others point out that the presence of fat and sugar in chocolate products outweighs the benefits. They also say that flavonoids are present in other foods, such as vegetables which don't have the high fat and sugar content that chocolate often does.
So maybe the old pharmacological rule may be helpful. 'Dosage makes the poison'. Anything is harmful in large enough quantities, even water. It can expand cell membranes to a dangerous degree and only recently someone died from drinking too much water. In moderate amounts, even fat and sugar are positive benefits.
Complex sugars are to be preferred because they take longer to break down, but simple sugars are still carbohydrates and provide much needed energy. Fat, in modest amounts, performs useful biological functions like regulating certain hormones in the brain. It is also a type of carbohydrate that can provide quick, needed energy.
One major form of fat in chocolate is stearic acid which is a saturated fat. These are generally not preferred, as they can increase the 'bad' type of cholesterol, although some studies suggest that stearic acid, as found in chocolate, does not contribute to that and in fact may help lower cholesterol.
The problem arises when these are consumed in high quantities, which is easy to do when eating a chocolate bar, chocolate fudge or chocolate ice cream!! Chocolate does contain other compounds that can have positive health effects. Though the amount of caffeine in a chocolate bar is only about 10-30% or less than that found in a cup of coffee, which might actually be a good thing. Low amounts of caffeine are known to be healthy.
While research continues, and the pros and cons will continue to be debated, consider Aristotle's view that moderation is the key to well-being. Modern science would probably also agree. Go ahead and give your Mum a well deserved chocolate gift for mothers day!
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