Here at Young Audiences, it's pretty obvious that we love chocolate! We also love being healthy. So, we wanted to know if health-nuts and chocoholics could live in harmony. Here's what we found out:Does chocolate contain any nutrients or is it just empty calories?
Chocolate lovers rejoice! Not only is chocolate scrumptious, it also contains some important nutrients. A 1.5-oz milk chocolate bar contains: 3 grams of protein, 15% of the daily value of riboflavin, and 9% of the daily value of calcium, 7% of the daily value of iron. For a more extensive look at chocolate's nutritional facts look here.
Will chocolate give me pimples?
Nope. That's just a myth. Recent studies at the Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the U.S Naval Academy have shown that eating chocolate does not affect acne at all. In fact, most doctors believe that diet is not linked to acne.
I heard that chocolate is good for your heart. Is that true?
Dark chocolate can definitely do your heart some good in more ways than one. Research has proven that natural compounds in dark chocolate and cocoa can actually help your cardiovascular health by increasing blood flow and reducing blood pressure. It can even reduce LDL levels (bad cholesterol) by up to 10%. For more details and information about your heart and chocolate, look here.
Will chocolate make me fat?
Like almost everything, chocolate should be enjoyed in moderation. Chocolate, especially milk chocolate, is high in calories, fat, and sugar. In fact, doctors used to prescribe chocolate to help malnourished patients gain weight. The good news is that most of the fat within chocolate won't affect your cholesterol. Only about 1/3 of the fat within chocolate is actually bad for you. Want more information? Look here!
So how do I enjoy chocolate in a healthy way?
Again, the trick is enjoying chocolate in moderation. Studies show that you only really need about 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate a day for good heart health. That's less than half of an average Hershey's bar. A typical bar of dark chocolate is 400 calories, so if you eat only half of that, keep in mind that that's still 200 calories. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy your favorite treat. Here are some tips to make eating chocolate as enjoyable as it possibly can be:
1. Taste the chocolate: Chocolate is a complex food with over 300 compounds and chemicals in each bite. Take your time when your tasting it. Chocolate's not for scarfing down; it's for enjoying slowly and lovingly. Use all five senses to get a truly meaningful chocolate experience.
2. Skip Nougat: Avoid anything with cream, carmel, or nougat. That will up your calorie intake. Instead look for dark chocolates with orange peel, nuts, or other natural flavoring.
3. Look for chocolate with higher cocoa percentage: A higher cocoa percentage (they can go all the way up to 99%, although we recommend you start with a slightly lower percentage) means that the chocolate contains more cacao and therefore less sugar.
4. There's nothing wrong with a rich, chocolaty treat every now and then: Don't beat yourself up for indulging. Life's too short. If you're tempted to go for that second or third brownie, just remember that you'll have to give up something else later to make up for the calories and fat. But let's be honest, sometimes it's worth it!
We're sure there are a lot more questions about chocolate and your health (like where's the closest Chocolatier shop?). Check out these websites for even more information:
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