If you regularly read any health or wellness publications, you’ve likely heard the assertion that chocolate is good for you – usually phrased something like this: “Thinking about skipping dessert? Think again. A new study shows that chocolate is actually heart-healthy.”
But what does all of the evidence say about chocolate? Is it really good for your health? A systematic review published in the Journal of Nutrition has found that, yes, chocolate is really good for your health.
The review looked at the effect of flavonoid-rich cocoa on all cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin sensitivity. It also evaluated the dose-response relationships between cocoa and cardiovascular risk factors.
The review included a total of twenty-four studies with 1,106 participants. It found that chocolate had positive effects on a number of cardiovascular risk factors – blood pressure, insulin resistance, lipid profiles and cholesterol.
While that’s good news for dessert-lovers far and wide, there was a limitation of the available evidence – the studies only looked at benefits over the short-term – days or weeks. The review concluded with a call for long-term investigations into effects of cocoa on the heart.
In the meantime, you can still pass the chocolate to me.
Perhaps the most most important thing to realize is that it is the cocoa solids, and to a lesser extent the cocoa butter, that can make chocolate a healthy food choice. The addition of sugar and other non-cacao derived fats and oils dilutes the beneficial effects of the cocoa. That is why dark chocolate is “healthier” than other types of chocolate products that contain a lesser percentage of cocoa. As I point out in my books and blog postings, there are positives and negatives to chocolate consumption, but for most of us, chocolate is a healthy food choice.
It should come as no surprise. Cacao, after all, is rich in antioxidants; in addition, its effects on neurotransmitters that result in pleasureable feelings and stimulation may have a positive overall effect due to mood enhancement. My personal experience is that cacao is too stimulating. I find it actually makes me feel “high” and elevates my heart rate. For others, however, it seems like sweet, delicious medicine.