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CHOCOLATE,
THE NEW HEALTH FOOD?
February 2006
Chocolate has long been thought of as a classic junk food, not providing
anything to the consumer besides fat and empty calories. Today, there
are an increasing number of studies that show that chocolate, dark chocolate
in particular, may provide nutritional benefits. If enjoyed along with
a balanced diet, chocolate can be a tasty cancer-fighting treat.
Chocolate contains polyphenols, which are a type of antioxidant. Antioxidants
are thought to fight cancer along with providing benefits for the health
of your heart. Antioxidants protect our bodies against free radicals.
The O.R.A.C. (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) value of a food measures
how effectively it protects our bodies against the harmful effects of
free radicals. Dark chocolate contains 13,120 O.R.A.C. units per 100 grams.
This is one of the highest antioxidant values for a food. Higher than
broccoli, brussel sprouts, spinach, blueberries and prunes combined!
Some small studies have shown eating a small amount of dark chocolate may improve smoker’s arteries just hours after eating it and may help reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries. Other studies suggest it may increase HDL or “good” cholesterol levels and reduce high blood pressure. Chocolate also contains essential trace elements and nutrients such as iron, calcium and potassium, and vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E.
This is all great
news, but don’t forget the other nutrients that chocolate contains.
These include carbohydrates in the form of sugar as well as fat in the
form of saturated fat. Both of these can be consumed as a part of a balanced
diet, but remember there can be too much of a good thing! The researchers
note that too much chocolate could increase the risk of heart disease
by raising blood sugar levels, body fat, and body weight. But their findings
suggest just a couple ounces of dark chocolate a day may reduce the risk
of coronary artery disease.
VARIETIES
OF CHOCOLATE
White Chocolate - Made from cocoa butter or the fat portion
of the cocoa bean. Does not contain any cocoa solids, therefore it does
not provide the antioxidant benefits the other types of chocolates provide.
Milk Chocolate - Cocoa beans with milk or powdered milk
added. Contains cocoa solids and has less cocoa butter than white chocolate.
Dark Chocolate – Essentially cocoa beans plus sugar.
The darker the chocolate the more health benefits.
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