Consuming Chocolate in a Nutritious Diet

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Chocolate has become a subject of numerous debates among nutritionists. While consuming chocolate has been considered contributing to weight gain for many years, recent investigations show that this product should not be regarded as a purely unhealthy one. On the contrary, numerous scientists claim that the benefits of consuming chocolate can overweigh its negative sides. The careful analysis of both drawbacks and benefits of consuming chocolate helps to reveal whether it should be included in a nutritious diet.

The drawbacks of consuming chocolate are related to large amounts of sugar the product contains. Eating foods containing an extensive amount of sugar is one of the main causes of gaining weight. Besides, chocolate can have serious negative effects on teeth and cause their decay. The nutritional content of chocolate highly depends on its recipe; as natural dark chocolate differs from the majority of chocolate bars we buy in the supermarkets a lot. Dark chocolate is rich in nutrients while chocolate produced by adding extensive amounts of sugar and mostly sold as milk or white chocolate yield to natural dark chocolate and can have a severe impact on health if consumed too often. Potential health problems can include obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes (“Chocolate: Health Benefits, Precautions” par. 7).

While certain risks are related to consuming chocolate, there are still numerous reasons to consider this product a source of beneficial ingredients. The main reason to include chocolate in a nutritious diet is the plenty of nutrients it contains. Raw dark chocolate is considered a rich source of magnesium, iron, and phosphorus. Natural milk chocolate also serves as a reliable source of calcium. Though chocolate cannot be regarded as a food enabling the person to consume the needed daily amount of nutrients, it can be used as an additional source of vital minerals and other elements. Besides the nutrients mentioned above, chocolate has other ingredients benefiting the human health. Antioxidants contained in this product in huge amounts help to reduce the risks of development of chronic degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and cancer (Mercola par. 7). Besides, antioxidants take part in the process of lowering bad cholesterol, and recent studies have shown that consumption of chocolate positively influences the health of people facing problems with elevated levels of cholesterol (“Chocolate: Health Benefits, Precautions” par. 13). Polyphenols contained in chocolate lower the risks of stroke and decrease inflammatory processes (Mercola par. 21). Besides, cannabinoid-like substances that are present in a bar of dark chocolate affect hypothalamus and can help the people experiencing problems with appetite. Moreover, consumption of chocolate helps us digest milk, which is an essential part of a nutritious diet. As chocolate stimulates the activity of the enzyme lactase in the intestine, it can benefit lactose-intolerant people and enrich their diet with an important source of calcium (“Eating Chocolate Is Good for You” par. 15).

Natural chocolate does not only positively affect physical health. It also benefits mental health by helping to overcome serious stress, as anandamide compounds block feelings of pain and depression and harmonize the work of the nervous system. Besides, consumption of chocolate help to stay alert because of theobromine contained in it.

The analysis of negative and positive sides of consuming chocolate reveals that consumption of natural chocolate benefits human health and enrich the diet with important nutrients and unique elements. Therefore, thoughtful consumption of chocolate should be included in a nutritious diet.