The Benefits of Chocolate

Each of us have those moments when we want to consume our Halloween loot upon entering our house. And, right on signal, our mothers would come in, and take the Halloween candy away, claiming for it to be extremely unhealthy.

Well, they are right. Sort of.

Chocolate has been coined as an an obesity inducer. Chocolate has also been associated with high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. However, moderate consumption of chocolate can actually be a good thing! Scientific research has proven that chocolate has many health benefits.

For example, chocolate has been identified as being rich in antioxidant material such as polyphenols, flavanols, and catechins, which could help in lowering cholesterol levels, preventing cognitive decline, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems. In a study of 470 elderly men, cocoa was found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death by 50% over a 15 year period

Furthermore, in a Canadian study, with 44489 individuals, it was found that those who moderately, but regularly consumed chocolate were 22% less likely to suffer from a stroke. In a study of 470 elderly men, cocoa was found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death by 50% over a 15 year period.

While this blog post has been all about the benefits of chocolate, it is still important to face the stark reality that chocolate is beneficial in moderate amounts. Eating too much could provide many negatives, and lead to obesity.

Chocolate in moderate amounts is good, but I guess that can be said for everything...right?