The myth surrounding chocolate - is it healthy or unhealthy?
We dedicate this blog post to all the sweet tooths out there who occasionally wonder, "Is chocolate really that unhealthy?" Everyone knows those days when time drags on so slowly—especially when working from home. Boredom breeds cravings. But when the 15th trip to the fridge still hasn't yielded a snack that really appeals to you, you inevitably reach for the last resort—a bar of chocolate. You intend to eat just one or maybe two pieces, but then—after just one more tiny piece, and then another…—suddenly the whole bar is gone, and guilt creeps in.
Whether dark, white, or milk chocolate – we love all variations of this delicious treat. The only problem is that chocolate isn't exactly healthy, as it contains a lot of fat and sugar, and therefore a lot of calories. But there's also good news: Dark chocolate, in particular, contains many ingredients that can have a positive effect on blood pressure and heart health.
But now we finally come to the most important question - Is chocolate healthy or unhealthy?
To answer this question, we first need to start with the basics. What exactly is in each type of chocolate, and what effects do these ingredients have on our bodies?
- dark chocolate: This type of chocolate is distinguished by its particularly high cocoa content. Chocolate with a cocoa content of more than 70% is called dark chocolate. From a cocoa content of 55%, it can be called bittersweet chocolate. Generally speaking, the higher the cocoa content, the less milk it contains, and the more bitter and intense the flavor. And now for the good news for all dark chocolate lovers – this type is actually the healthiest! A bar of dark chocolate has around 500 calories and usually contains less than two spoonfuls of sugar. The higher the cocoa content, the less sugar!
- Whole milk chocolate: This type of chocolate contains – as the name suggests – a lot of milk or milk powder. Everyone is familiar with the typically mild and sweet taste of milk chocolate. This confectionery contains much more sugar than, for example, dark chocolate. And unfortunately, that's not all – due to the high proportion of milk or milk powder, it also has a higher fat content. This means exactly one thing – milk chocolate is less healthy.
- White chocolate: Strictly speaking, white chocolate isn't actually chocolate at all – did you know that? That's because it doesn't contain any cocoa, only cocoa butter. This is also what gives it its familiar pale yellow color. White chocolate also contains a lot of sugar, milk, and other flavorings, such as vanilla. As you can probably guess, white chocolate, with its high fat and sugar content, is the unhealthiest type!
But now let's return to some positive aspects.
All you sweet tooths out there can rejoice, because chocolate has been proven to have several positive effects on the body! Dark chocolate, in particular, contains a high proportion of antioxidants. Specifically, cocoa beans contain a large number of polyphenols and flavonoids. These substances are known to neutralize free radicals in cells.This is positive because free radicals can trigger serious illnesses, such as heart attacks, arthritis, and cancer. Flavonoids, in particular, can counteract these effects! They are also known to lower blood pressure and can apparently regulate blood sugar levels. Catechins, substances belonging to the flavonoid group, have especially positive effects on the body. You might already be familiar with these substances from green and black tea. Catechins are true all-rounders—they can counteract stress hormones, kill various strains of bacteria in the body, and even prevent inflammation! And here's the kicker: Dark chocolate contains four times as many catechins as tea. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean that chocolate is four times as healthy as tea. Nevertheless, if you treat yourself to a cup of tea and a piece of chocolate at a coffee gathering, you certainly won't go wrong!
Furthermore, it has been scientifically proven that chocolate can stimulate blood flow to the brain. This has similar effects to coffee consumption and can lead to improved performance on certain tasks and a temporary increase in brain alertness.
Ultimately, the rule always applies: the dose makes the poison. Even dark chocolate should only be consumed in small amounts, as it too is a processed sweet and contains a lot of fat, sugar, and therefore calories. As we know, fat and sugar are particularly bad for the body. They can contribute to diabetes and are also bad for teeth and skin. We're sorry if the above text raised your hopes too much, but unfortunately, you shouldn't indulge in white and milk chocolate without restraint. These two indulgences contain fewer flavonoids but more fat and sugar.
So, we've cleared up the first myth surrounding chocolate. Now let's move on to the second statement:
Chocolate makes you happy. But is that true?
Almost everyone knows the feeling: you're stressed, or sad, or frustrated, or angry, or offended, or just in a bad mood. And what helps then? What instantly improves your mood? Of course, a small piece of chocolate.
The problem is that, from a scientific perspective, this isn't actually true. The substance responsible for the "happy feeling" after eating chocolate is phenylethylamine. The good news is: this substance is indeed found in chocolate. It affects the neurotransmitters in your brain and triggers the release of the "happiness hormone." Serotonin is released. The bad news: The effects of phenylethylamine are still highly controversial in the scientific community, and the amount contained in chocolate is very small—only about the same as in cheese. The other substances in chocolate that are said to induce feelings of happiness, such as theobromine, phenylethylamine, cannabinoidamide, and tryptophan, are unfortunately present in quantities too small to produce noticeable effects. Strictly speaking, the claim that chocolate makes you happy is therefore, unfortunately, not true.
Chocolate can still act as a comfort food, but this only works if we're willing to let the little indulgence work its magic. From a psychological perspective, this means chocolate has positive effects on your mood. If you associate enjoying chocolate with something positive, a small piece of this little treat can actually improve your mood.This isn't because chocolate is some kind of psychological miracle cure, but simply because the brain has learned to release feelings of happiness when you treat yourself to some chocolate! The chocolate then essentially takes on a reward function, and your body automatically releases the neurotransmitters dopamine and endorphins after consumption.
Conclusion
We hope this blog post has shed some light on the myth surrounding chocolate. But let us give you one last tip: dark chocolate is better chocolate. As mentioned before, dark chocolate contains less sugar and fewer calories compared to its sweeter counterparts – white and milk chocolate.
However, a small piece of chocolate generally won't hurt, as chocolate can make us happy. And if you otherwise pay attention to a balanced and healthy diet, exercise regularly, and are mindful of your health, this small indulgence in small amounts can't be bad at all!
