Is Chocolate Bad For Your Health?

• Cacao, the source of chocolate, contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. However, chocolate with a high sugar content will negate this benefit. Dark chocolate contains significantly higher amounts of cacao and lower amounts of sugar than white chocolate, making it more healthful.
• The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.
• Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator.
• The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which can raise good cholesterol.
• Men who eat chocolate regularly live on average one year longer than those who don’t.
• The flavanoids in chocolate help keep blood vessels elastic.
• Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.
• The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.

Now for the Health Risks Of Chocolate:

• Chocolate may contribute to lower bone density.
• Chocolate can trigger headaches in migraine sufferers.
• Milk chocolate is high in calories, saturated fat and sugar.
• Chocolate is a danger to pets (chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine, which animals are unable to digest).

Chocolate Won’t:

• Cause acne.
• Make you nervous or irritable: cacao contains the stimulants caffeine and bromine, but not in significant amounts in chocolate bars and nibs.
• Turn you into an addict: chocolate is not addictive.
• Raise your cholesterol: chocolate contains stearic acid, a neutral fat which doesn’t raise bad cholesterol.