Is Dark Chocolate Bad For Your Health? What We Know (2024)

FAQs

Is Dark Chocolate Bad For Your Health? What We Know? ›

While dark chocolate can have a protective effect on heart health, that doesn't mean you should overindulge. Dark chocolate is high in fat and calories, so it's important to enjoy it in moderation.

Heavy metals, such as cadmium and lead, were found in some dark chocolates. These metals can interrupt metabolic functions and the way our organs perform. Some chocolate bars in the study had levels of cadmium and lead that were considered harmful to our health.

So is dark chocolate actually healthy? Dark chocolate is rich in disease-fighting antioxidants. Studies show it can help reduce blood pressure and lower the risk of heart disease. Studies show that dark chocolate — when it is not loaded with sugar and saturated fat — is indeed a heart-healthy chocolate treat and more.

Side effects of dark chocolate

- Palpitation: The cocoa content in dark chocolate can increase the pulse rate and blood pressure in case one eats it in larger quantities. - Constipation: Eating too much dark chocolate can lead to constipation as it contains caffeine that leads to dehydration and slows down digestion.

Cadmium and lead in dark chocolate

And 5 of the bars contained higher levels for both heavy metals. Due to the fact that cadmium and lead can cause developmental issues, exposure to these heavy metals poses the greatest risk for pregnant people and young children.

The brands found to have the lowest levels of heavy metal contamination are: Mast Organic Dark Chocolate (80% cocoa) Taza Organic Chocolate (70% cocoa)

The recommended portion is 30 grams per day, but not every day, in order to avoid consuming too many calories. It's important to choose the right type of chocolate for your daily indulgence, so to maximise the benefits, it's best to opt for dark chocolate with at least 75% cocoa.

Dark chocolate can sometimes contain surprisingly high levels of lead and cadmium, two heavy metals that have been linked to health problems, as Consumer Reports' recent investigation into dark chocolate shows.

Dark chocolate has many health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, improving vascular system function, and reducing total cholesterol and LDL. These significant benefits could reduce chronic kidney disease or kidney failure complications. However, milk chocolate bars can also harm those with kidney disease.

The cocoa in dark chocolate is a natural source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and it has potential benefits for your heart, brain, gut, and overall health. Dark chocolate has several times more antioxidants than green tea or red wine.

Does dark chocolate raise cholesterol? ›

Eating dark chocolate and cocoa alone didn't appear to have a major effect on heart health, she said. “Chocolate doesn't increase cholesterol levels, but it doesn't decrease cholesterol levels either.”

Separate studies have shown that dark chocolate may guard against heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease. Dark chocolate seems to have anti-inflammatory effects as well as properties that help prevent blood clots and lower blood pressure. More study is needed to confirm whether these effects all work together.

What is the daily recommended amount of dark chocolate? The recommended “dose” is approximately 1 to 2 ounces or 30-60g, experts say. Indulge in anything more than that, and you may be consuming too many calories. A 1.45-ounce (41 gram) Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Bar has 190 calories.

Dark chocolate contains powerful antioxidants. Among the most beneficial is a flavonol called epicatechin. Flavonols are compounds found in plants that fight inflammation and protect against cell damage caused by free radicals.

The clear winner.

Dark chocolate is by far the healthiest form of the treat, containing the least sugar and, because of its cocoa content, higher levels of substances that protect the body's cells. If sugar is your number one concern, Allers recommends looking for higher percentages.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid dark chocolate as it contains caffeine and may interfere with growth. If you have an anxiety disorder, avoid eating dark chocolate; it may worsen your condition.

The best time to eat chocolate is during the day. It's best not to eat it on an empty stomach or late in the evening as it's a stimulant containing caffeine. Chocolate is also perfect during sport and before activities that require composure and concentration.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are considered of primary importance in the progression of NAFLD. Consuming dark chocolate can halt oxidative stress and hepatic inflammation seen in NASH, which ultimately leads to Liver failure. Thus, dark chocolate could halt disease progression.

White chocolate not only has more saturated fat than any other type of chocolate, but lacks the healthy phytochemicals found in cocoa and dark chocolate.

Several chocolate sellers were sued by consumers after a Consumer Reports , opens new tab study in December 2022 found potentially harmful levels of lead, cadmium or both in dark chocolate bars, for people who ate more than one ounce of chocolate a day. The metals can occur naturally , opens new tab in soil.

Do doctors recommend dark chocolate? ›

Regularly eating dark chocolate may help reduce a person's likelihood of developing heart disease. Some of the compounds in dark chocolate, specifically flavanols, affect two major risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Excessive consumption of dark chocolate can increase caffeine levels in blood, causing increased heart rate, nausea, dehydration and insomnia. Approximately 30-60 grams of dark chocolate per day is recommended quantity to be healthy.

Dark chocolate offers many positive health benefits that can be great for seniors and their overall health. For chocolate to be considered healthy, it must contain 60% cacao at the very least. Some experts recommend choosing dark chocolate made with 70-85% cacao to experience optimal health benefits.

For example, dark chocolate contains more copper and fiber but less vitamin B12 and riboflavin compared to white and milk chocolate. However, because all chocolate is rich in saturated fat and generally contains an appreciable amount of added sugar, it is often labelled a “junk food”.

Only a small amount of cadmium remains in the body after eating food contaminated with cadmium, but if consumed over a long period of time, cadmium can lead to kidney disease and cause bones to become weaker. Large amounts of cadmium can damage the kidney, liver and heart and in severe cases may cause death.

Anti-inflammatory effect. Several experimental studies found that Dark chocolate also has an anti-inflammatory effect.