The Truth About Chocolate
By Sara Butler
Nearly everyone loves chocolate. If you’re one of its devotees, then you probably try to focus on the good side of chocolate. After all, it has health benefits – right? Well, there is research that shows chocolate can be a part of a healthy diet, but it’s still important to keep the facts straight and avoid chocolate-loving myths that could tank your good intentions. Here are a few of the most common myths about chocolate.
Myth No. 1: Chocolate Contain a Lot of Caffeine
Eating chocolate may help you to stay perky, but that’s not because of caffeine. A chocolate bar or a glass of chocolate milk doesn’t have any more caffeine than a cup of decaffeinated coffee. So, you can feel good that chocolate isn’t keeping you up at night. Well, not because of caffeine anyway, but the sugar could be a problem!
Myth No. 2: Chocolate is Full of Saturated Fat
Many people believe chocolate to be a danger to cholesterol levels because of saturated fat, but that’s simply not the case. In fact, the saturated fat found in most chocolate, called stearic acid, hasn’t been found to raise blood cholesterol levels.
Myth No. 3: Chocolate has no Nutritional Value
Chocolate actually is a great source of copper, magnesium, zinc, and iron. It also has the same antioxidant found in red wine and tea, called polyphenols. These have been associated with a reduction in the risk of heart disease.
Myth No. 4: Chocolate Causes Acne
No matter what your parents or grandparents said, chocolate doesn’t cause acne. Over the last 20 years, several studies have eliminated chocolate as a cause of acne. In fact, many dermatologists aren’t convinced that diet plays any part in whether or not a person develops acne, it likely has more to do with the amount of oils and bacteria levels on the skin.
Myth No. 5: Chocolate Causes Headaches
A lot of people are under the impression that migraines can be triggered by chocolate, but a study from the University of Pittsburgh found no link between headaches and chocolate. It was once thought that certain compounds in chocolate triggered headaches, but that’s not been found to be true with further study.
Just as with most other things in life, chocolate isn’t unhealthy as long as it’s consumed in moderation. It can be a part of a healthy lifestyle as long as you keep your portion in control and go for dark chocolate when you can.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Albuquerque, N.M.
