Is Chocolate Bad for You?

When you are having a piece of chocolate, does this question pop into your mind? “Is chocolate bad for you?” We shall answer that question. But first, let us go back in time and understand where this deliciousness came from. It started in the Southern part of Mexico. In around 450 BC, people from the region used chocolate to make fermented beverages. The Aztecs used to believe that the Cacao seed is a blessing from the God of wisdom, Quetzalcoatl. It was served as a bitter liquid with spices.

Chocolate as an Aphrodisiac

The Aztecs found a connection between sexual desire and chocolate. It has chemicals such as ‘tryptophan’ and ‘phenethylamine’. The former promotes sexual desires and the latter is released when two people fall in love.

Researchers did in-depth studies and found small amounts of the above-mentioned chemicals. Also, chocolate helps in dealing with stress and depression. Indulging in chocolate can help you uplift your mood. It is comforting and delicious!

These days, chefs have introduced different types of chocolates. They add orange peel, cashews, walnuts, cranberries and even biscuits inside the chocolates.

Eating Chocolates – Good or Bad?

There is no doubt that chocolate is much-loved by the majority of people. When you were little, your parents may have scolded you for eating too many chocolates.

Many people wonder – is chocolate bad for you? Firstly, you must know that there are three types of chocolates — milk, dark, and white chocolate.

Chocolate’s antioxidant potential has multiple health advantages. You can get more health benefits from chocolates with a higher amount of cocoa. Dark chocolate contains less fat and sugar than others. Eating dark chocolate that contains plant sterols (PS) and cocoa flavanols (CF), as part of a low-fat nutrition program may help cardiovascular health by reducing cholesterol and lowering blood pressure.

What are the health benefits of chocolate?

• Chocolate can lower your cholesterol level.
• It may help prevent cognitive deterioration.
• It may help resolve cardiovascular difficulties.
• It may help with fetal growth and development.

Scientists from Harvard Medical School discovered that drinking two cups of hot chocolate regularly can help keep your brain healthy. It also helps in improving your memory.

The reason why certain chocolates have a bad reputation is because these have high fat and sugar content. This means that chocolate CAN be bad for your body, but only if you are going overboard.

Considering chefs have introduced a number of desserts that contain a lot of fat, you may want to skip those. These desserts could include a rich chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, and thick chocolate shakes.

Conclusion

So, is chocolate bad for you? Let’s put it this way. Too much of anything is bad. When you consume chocolate in larger quantities, health problems may arise such as obesity, high blood sugar, and hypertension. Instead, enjoy a small bar of dark chocolate. Do not go overboard, but control the portion size. As much as possible, limit eating chocolate ice cream or chocolate cake to once or twice a month.

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