Can Chocolate Benefit Your Health?

If you're a fan of chocolate you're in good company.a sense of well-being.What Chocolate Won't DoThere
Chocolate is one of the most popular sweet-tastingare many myths and half-truths about the effects of
treats in the world and has been for centuries. But partchocolate on the human body. Here are the latest
of the myth surrounding chocolate is that it tastes sofindings on several of them.* Studies show that
good it must be bad for your health. Which gives it anchocolate is not a causative factor in acne.* Cacao
air of the forbidden.A beautifully wrapped box ofcontains the stimulants caffeine and bromine, but in
chocolates has always been considered a verysuch small quantities that they don't cause nervous
romantic gift. So if the special person in your life is aexcitability.* Chocolate is not addictive.* Chocolate
self-confessed chocoholic, you know one surefire waycontains stearic acid, a neutral fat which doesn't raise
to please them on special occasions. But the surprisingbad cholesterol.* Chocolate doesn't make you 'high'.
news from the scientific community is that thisYou'd need to eat a huge quantity (about 25lbs at one
reputedly decadent treat actually has some healthsitting) to feel any noticeable effect.But On The
benefits, especially if you choose your chocolateNegative Side...1. Chocolate may trigger headaches in
wisely.Is Chocolate A Health Food?Chocolate containsmigraine sufferers.2. Milk chocolate is high in calories,
over 300 chemicals, and has been the subject of asaturated fat and sugar.What About Chocolate And
number of studies by universities and other scientificYour Pets?Chocolate is considered dangerous to
organizations. Here's a quick rundown of the results.animals because it contains a stimulant called
We have no way of proving or disproving thesetheobromine, which they can't digest.Dark chocolate
claims so we offer them here as a stimulus for furtherand baking chocolate are even more dangerous
research. If you're really interested in the subject, thisbecause they contain higher concentrations of the
may provide you with a starting point.* Cacao, thesubstance. This applies whether chocolate is in candy
source of chocolate, contains antibacterial agents thatbar form, or an ingredient in cake, cookies, puddings or
fight tooth decay. Of course, this is counteracted byice cream.If a pet becomes ill after eating chocolate,
the high sugar content of milk chocolate.* The smell oftake it to the vet immediately.Dark Chocolate Versus
chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting inMilk ChocolateDark chocolate contains more cacao
relaxation.* Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, aand less sugar than milk chocolate. It follows that any
mild mood elevator.* The cocoa butter in chocolatehealth benefits would be more pronounced in dark
contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which maychocolate.Dark chocolate is allowed on the popular
raise good cholesterol.* Drinking a cup of hot chocolateMontaignac diet while milk chocolate is not.You'll need
before meals may actually diminish appetite.* Men whoto do a little research if you have any health concerns
eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don't.*about eating chocolate. But with products like
The flavanoids in chocolate may help keep bloodgluten-free and sugar-free brands finding their way
vessels elastic.* Chocolate increases antioxidant levelsonto supermarket shelves, you're sure to find some
in the blood.* Mexican healers use chocolate to treatform of chocolate you can enjoy with a clear
bronchitis and insect bites.* The carbohydrates inconscience.
chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in