Eating up to 30 grams of chocolate up to three times a week may help to reduce the risk of developing stroke, coronary heart disease and diabetes. The reduction in risk of diabetes can even be associated with more frequent chocolate consumption.
It is a high-energy (high calorie) food, and too much can result in excess weight, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Chocolate is high in calories, so you need to enjoy it in moderation. You can have about 1 ounce of dark chocolate no more than three times a week.
According to health experts, consuming around 30-60 grams of dark chocolate per day is a healthy amount for most people. That's about two to four small squares of your favourite chocolate bar.
Chocolate is a healthy-heart choice if taken in moderation. Chocolate is good for the heart as new research show that consuming chocolate at least once a week is linked with a reduced risk of heart disease.
Go for a dark chocolate or a dark coconut milk chocolate if you're looking to maximize health benefits— it's not just a lower cacao content that makes a milk chocolate less good for you. The proteins in animal milk bind to the antioxidants in chocolate, making them unavailable for your body to use.
Experts say the recommended “dose” is approximately 1 to 2 ounces or 30-60g. Indulge in anything more than that, and you may be consuming too many calories.
Humans can easily digest and excrete methylxanthines, the half life of theobromine being 2-3 hours. However absorption in dogs is slow, with metabolism in the liver and extrahepatic recirculation before excretion in the urine. The half life of theobromine in dogs is about 18 hours.
Increases heart health: The antioxidants in dark chocolate have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of clotting and increase blood circulation to the heart, thus lowering the risks of stroke, coronary heart disease and death from heart disease.
So, how many is too many? I'd suggest that once a week should be your maximum, but it will come as no surprise that the answer depends on what you're ordering, where from and how much you're eating.
There's a myth about chocolate and diabetes. But you can eat chocolate, just in moderation and not too often. Try not to eat a lot in one go as it affects your blood sugar levels. If you snack on chocolate regularly it may start to increase your cholesterol levels and make it more difficult to manage your weight.
The symptoms of chocolate addiction withdrawal include intense cravings for sweet foods, carbohydrate cravings, increased irritability, depressed mood, headaches, lack of energy, and exhaustion. Cutting back on chocolate may affect a person by causing withdrawal symptoms that may be uncomfortable.
You're not getting enough magnesium
We need magnesium to help turn the food we eat into energy. As dark chocolate is high in magnesium, some argue that chocolate cravings stem from a magnesium deficiency.
Compounds in dark chocolate boost memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem-solving skills by increasing blood flow to the brain. What is this? The flavonoids in chocolate have been shown to improve blood flow to the brain in young and old alike.
It's very calorific, so too much of it will lead to weight gain. This in turn can lead to issues such as diabetes and heart disease. It also allows plaque to form on your teeth and thrive, which will eventually cause tooth decay.
Theobromine is a stimulant responsible for the "buzz" you get after eating chocolate. Ramadan described this as a "buzz of energy, buzz of sharpness of mind, which will actually last for a while."
Chocolate contains caffeine, which makes it hard to fall asleep and keeps you from getting to the deep sleep stages you need to feel rested, according to Stokes.
The nutritionist suggested only eating snacks that are high in sugar, such as chocolates which contain more than 22.5g of sugars per 100g, once or twice a week.
Lindt dark chocolate is made with high-quality ingredients and contains a high percentage of cocoa solids, which are responsible for the health benefits of dark chocolate. Lindt dark chocolate is also low in sugar and calories, making it a healthy choice for those looking to improve their health.