What are the Health Benefits of Chocolate?
The health benefits of chocolate are often touted in the news, typically with a jaunty headline. While chocolate certainly does contain some beneficial compounds, the fact is that a very large volume of high quality dark chocolate would need to be eaten for these benefits to take effect. More chocolate, in fact, than most people could eat without severe intestinal discomfort. Some of these compounds are unique to chocolate, but others can be more readily obtained from things like fresh fruits such as blueberries. Ultimately, the health benefits of chocolate should not be used as an excuse for indulging.
The health benefits of chocolate are often touted in the news, typically with a jaunty headline. While chocolate certainly does contain some beneficial compounds, the fact is that a very large volume of high quality dark chocolate would need to be eaten for these benefits to take effect. More chocolate, in fact, than most people could eat without severe intestinal discomfort. Some of these compounds are unique to chocolate, but others can be more readily obtained from things like fresh fruits such as blueberries. Ultimately, the health benefits of chocolate should not be used as an excuse for indulging. Before plunging into the health benefits of chocolate, it is important to clarify that these benefits only apply for pure dark chocolate. Milk chocolate, chocolate desserts, and other chocolate sweets do not carry the same benefits, since the other ingredients tend to be harmful, and the beneficial compounds are present in trace amounts. High quality dark chocolate, however, does not co
