Though studies have proved that dark chocolate contains elements that are beneficial to your health, chocolate is not always healthy and the quantity consumed must be monitored.
Processed vs. Pure
Pure cocoa has positive effects on blood pressure and cholesterol and also prevents heart disease. However, processed chocolate is what the majority of people are eating, and it contains added sugar, milk fats, saturated fats and corn syrup. These ingredients actually promote heart disease, weight gain, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Calories
Even dark chocolate is packed with calories. Its fat content may not cause cardiovascular disease, but eating it in large quantities can result in weight gain, which is harmful to your body.
Cavities
The refined sugar in processed chocolate can be detrimental to your teeth when eaten often without regular and proper teeth brushing. Sugar plays a harmful role in tooth decay by providing the bacteria in your mouth with energy. The bacteria begin to multiply faster, and plaque begins to grow in size and thickness on your teeth. Bacteria can also use sugar as a type of glue to cling to your teeth, making it difficult to get rid of with just a toothbrush.
Gum Disease
Sugar can cause and aggravate gum disease. Milk chocolate, along with other sweets, should be consumed only in moderate amounts. It is especially important to monitor the amount of sweets eaten by children to prevent bad habits and gum problems later on.
Healthy Alternatives
Fruits provide the same health advantages of dark chocolate without the calories and saturated fats. They also contain natural sugar for those who crave sweets. If you must have chocolate, buy it in the smallest serving size possible. This prevents you from eating up all of your calories for the day but satisfies your cravings.
Tags: dark chocolate, your teeth, blood pressure, heart disease, processed chocolate, saturated fats
