Chocolate Facts – The Truth About Chocolate and Your Health

Lately, tons of news about the health benefits of chocolate and cocoa products, backed by scientific research, have been published in various media, to mislead consumers into buying more chocolate products. But is chocolate really so beneficial for our health?

These myths try to convince us that eating chocolate:

• Reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer;
• Does not cause weight gain;
• Extend your life;
• Reduces stress;
• It has pain relief and other positive health effects.

But all those “facts” are actually proven by studies backed by chocolate interest groups: manufacturers and retailers with one agenda in mind: increase their sales.

However, research conducted by independent organizations yields quite different results. They showed that isolated compounds found in cocoa do, in fact, have some beneficial effect on human health: it could stabilize blood pressure, increase glucose metabolism. But people can enjoy those effects only if they consume pure, unprocessed cocoa. Manufactured chocolate, however, contains only about 20% real cocoa, plus other less healthy ingredients, such as sugar, milk fats, oils, which reduce all the benefits found in pure cocoa to zero.

The good news is that premium dark chocolate has fewer negative health effects, but it can’t be called beneficial either. Contains less sugar, fewer fats, and oils other than those naturally found in cocoa beans do not increase the risk of heart disease, but are still a rich source of calories. While lower grade cocoa products and milk chocolate create danger of cardiovascular disease and other health problems.

As chocolate is a rich source of calories, sugar and fat, it is no less harmful and fattening than other junk food. For this reason, it causes and contributes to all conditions and diseases caused by the consumption of processed sugar: heart disease, diabetes, inflammation, candidiasis, osteoporosis, obesity and others.

Another proven negative effect of chocolate is that it is actually addictive, just like other sweet and fatty products and junk food. Research shows that cocoa contains substances related to cannabis (marijuana) with stimulant, antidepressant and opioid effects. When opioid receptors in the brain are blocked, cravings for chocolate, sweets and fats disappear, confirming this theory.

While no one wants you to give up your favorite dessert, keep in mind that the rumors about the benefits of chocolate are far too exaggerated. You can safely eat whatever you want in moderation, but using chocolate as an antidepressant or pain reliever is not the best idea.