Chocolate is Good for You!

Dark, milk and white chocolate may be equally yummy, but researchers agree that dark chocolate has the greatest health benefits. This is because it is the cocoa in chocolate that provides the health benefits, and there is most cocoa in dark chocolate.

Cocoa contains flavonoids (polyphenols), which are potent antioxidants. They have effects on the circulatory system and blood, and protect the body from the damaging effects of free radicals. Oxidation by free radicals is thought to be a major cause of aging. Both dark and milk chocolate contain flavonoids, but the milk in milk chocolate interferes with their absorption, so dark chocolate is a much better source.

If you want to benefit from eating chocolate, you need to eat dark chocolate. Since the beneficial substances are found in the cocoa solids, look for a bar containing a high level (50-70% is good). With dark chocolate, there has been shown to be a direct relationship between this number and the amount of beneficial polyphenols in the chocolate. Try to choose a plain chocolate without fruit, nuts or other additives, so you will eat the most cocoa and polyphenols.

Check that there is no added sugar in your chocolate bar - high quality, dark chocolate bars generally have low sugar levels, as the cocoa provides the flavor. Avoid cheap chocolate that contains more sugar than cocoa and also has artificial flavorings and sweeteners. Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content actually has a fraction of the calories of other types of candy bar.

To gain the most from chocolate, you need to eat a balanced diet, which takes into account the extra calories from chocolate. Try replacing another high-calorie treat (for example biscuits or a cake) with the chocolate, so you are not consuming more calories by eating chocolate. Do not replace a healthy food, such as fruit, with chocolate. You do not have to eat a huge amount to benefit from dark chocolate - most studies showed that a single individual-serving bar a day was sufficient.

For another way to enjoy dark chocolate's benefits, try cooking with it. Cooking chocolate is generally very high in cocoa and low in sugar, so using it in recipes will allow you to benefit from chocolate's health-promoting properties.