Regardless of the form in which you like taking chocolate, such as a mug of cocoa or a gooey chocolate truffle, taking chocolate on a daily basis is probably a habit you have come to like. As one of the most versatile foods today, chocolate may be taken in various forms, such as dessert topping, addition to a hot beverage, as a fruit dip or as a confection. In addition to the addictive taste, chocolate also offers an array of health benefits, especially dark chocolate. This may be the reason for the increased indulgence in chocolate by people across all age groups. Among the benefits of chocolate is detoxification of the body. Basically, taking chocolate is considered to be safe. However, over indulgence in chocolate can have side effects, but does chocolate make you fat?
Does Chocolate Make You Fat?
Yes, if you take too much of it.
Weight gain in the body occurs when you consume more calories than the body is burning in a day. A regular intake of more calories than the body requires will definitely lead to weight gain. Chocolate is rich in calories, with a 1/3 of a cup of milk chocolate providing the body with about 297 calories. A similar amount of dark chocolate provides you with about 332 calories. This is just, but a portion of a chocolate bar. As such, including a bar of chocolate to your diet every day can have devastating effects, with regards to weight gain.
What Else Does Chocolate Do to You?
Having answered the question, does chocolate make you fat; you should also learn the other effects chocolate can have on your body. The following are some of the effects of overeating chocolate.
1. Sugar-Related Problems
All forms of chocolate contain high amounts of sugars, which is used as a sweetener to counter its bitterness. This sugar content can lead to dental complications, such as gum disease. Another problem associated with taking too much chocolate is the risk of contracting diabetes. This again is a result of the high sugar content in chocolate. This is why diabetic patients should not take chocolate.
2. Irritation of the Digestive System
Chocolate is known to contain a considerable amount of caffeine, which is a bowel stimulant in nature. If taken in large quantities, chocolate can trigger bowel movements. This, in turn, can worsen symptoms of diarrhea and irritable bowel disease. Again, chocolate is acidic. As such, it increases the level of acidity in the stomach, which may lead to acid reflux, heartburn and inflammation of existing stomach ulcers. If you are suffering from peptic ulcers or gastro esophageal reflux disease, you should avoid excessive intake of chocolate as it can worsen the symptoms.
3. High Potassium
The potassium content in chocolate is comparatively high, with every 2 oz of chocolate containing about 200 mg of potassium. While this may not be a problem for most of its users, it may be harmful to the kidney disease and adrenal disease patients. This is because elevating levels of potassium in the body increases mineral concentration in the blood. As such, adrenal disease and kidney disease patients should refrain from potassium-rich diets, including chocolate.
5 Myths and Facts Associated With Chocolate
Does chocolate make you fat? This is not the only concern associated with chocolate. There are various myths and speculations about chocolate that many chocolate users would like clarified. Here are some of the myths and facts associated with chocolate.
Chocolate is high in caffeine content
Contrary to this myth, chocolate does not have high caffeine content; a 1.4-ounce bar of chocolate, which is equivalent to an 8-ounce milk chocolate glass, contains about 6 mg of caffeine. This implies that the caffeine content in chocolate is equivalent to that in a cup of decaffeinated coffee.
Chocolate has a large fat content, hence not suited for your cholesterol
To some extent, this myth is not true. Stearic acid is the main saturated fat found in chocolate. This form of fat is different in that it does not elevate the level of cholesterol in the body the way other saturated fats do. If you take a 1.4 ounce bar of chocolate, rather than taking carbohydrates, the chocolate will boost the level of good cholesterol (HDL) in the body.
Chocolate does not have any nutritional value
As opposed to this myth, chocolate contains a horde of beneficial nutrients for your body, including zinc, iron, copper and magnesium. Additionally, chocolate contains polyphenols, an antioxidant that has been proven to lower the risk of contracting coronary disease. Additionally, including chocolate in your daily diet can also improve insulin resistance and lower blood pressure. According to a research conducted by the University of L’Aquila, Italy and the Tufts University, Boston, the flavonoids found in dark chocolate can have a positive impact on insulin resistance and blood pressure in the body.
Chocolate eating can lead to cavities
Again, this myth is wrong. If candy does not cause teeth cavity, how can chocolate cause the same? Cavities in the teeth form when bacteria in the mouth act on bacterial lodged in between the teeth, producing an acidic byproduct. It is this acid that corrodes the teeth creating teeth cavities. This starch is from such foods as bread, soda, juice and pasta.
Taking chocolate can lead to acne
While many people still hold on to this theory, it has been scientifically proven that chocolate does not cause acne. Additionally, many dermatologists believe that acne is caused by high levels of oil and bacteria on the skin, rather than the diet.
Tips
It is advisable that you minimize the frequency with which you take chocolate, in a bid to prevent weight gain. To cater for the chocolate craving, you may take the sweet, high-fiber, filling fruits like pears instead of chocolate. Alternatively, you can still have your daily serving of chocolate, but increase your physical activity so as to burn the extra calories. For instance, a 160-pound heavy person will have to walk at a brisk pace for 45 minutes in order to burn extra 280 calories, the same amount of calories in a third-full cup of chocolate.