Jeanne Calment, who lived the longest authenticated human life, consumed up to two pounds of chocolate each week — she lived to be 122 years and 164 days.
This is by no means an invitation to overindulge on chocolate. However, consuming an appropriate amount may benefit your overall health.
The main ingredient in chocolate is cocoa. Cocoa is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids; which are packed with health benefits.
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Flavonoids help reduce blood pressure while preventing cardiovascular damage. They also have a positive effect on blood cholesterol; helping to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol.
Chocolate also contains a pair of chemical compounds that offer some positive health benefits. They are phenylethylamine and theobromine.
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Theobromine is found in its most concentrated form in nature, in the cocoa bean. A powerful compound, theobromine boosts low blood sugar, while stimulating the mind—similar to caffeine. Theobromine is also a slight diuretic, meaning it causes more regular urination.
Milk chocolate, while delicious, has very little health benefit. Those wishing to feel the positive effects of chocolate should aim to consume a dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cacao (the percentage of cocoa solids). It is also important for one to stay away from chocolate bars that are high in sugar and hydrogenated oil.
One must always be aware, no matter how high the quality of the chocolate bar, that consuming too much may result in unwanted pounds, which are a danger to overall health.
Caffeine, found in cocoa and chocolate, is good for the body, but like chocolate, only in the right amounts. Caffeine works to stimulate and assist the liver in detoxifying and cleansing itself. Caffeine also helps regulate hormones by stimulating the adrenal glands, and works with the kidneys to filter unwanted toxins.
Everyone is different when it comes to the amount of caffeine they should consume. Typically, 200 to 300 milligrams a day is a good amount — some people may need more, while some may need less. There are 12 milligrams in one ounce of dark chocolate. For coffee, there are 95 milligrams in one cup.
Perhaps the best option for one’s daily caffeine fix is tea. There are 47 milligrams in one cup of black tea (the longer you steep the tea bag the higher the caffeine content). Tea is a cancer fighter, artery cleanser, weight reducer, and life extender — truly one of the healthier things one can consume.
In moderation, dark chocolate and caffeine can help you live a healthy lifestyle — making it possible for one to satisfy their sweet tooth without fearing the ill effects.
Steve Bernardi, a Framingham resident, is a registered compounding pharmacist and co-owner of Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center in Waltham.
