Chocolate: Junk Food or Healthy Option?
(Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes)
Chocolate holds a special place in human society. Wherever you go in the world, you will most likely find this delicious delight on the shelves where any other confections are found. While not in the top 5 chocolate consuming nations, such as Switzerland, the United States holds chocolate to a dear standard rate of consumption.[1] In 2015, it was expected that Americans would consume up to 18% of the world’s chocolate. This consumption would supersede the consumption of all of the Asia Pacific.[2] Later on in 2020, this rate would eventually spike higher, with data showing that chocolate retail sales would increase by 17.9%.[3]
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the love for chocolate in different countries continues to grow. After all, chocolate, according to scholars, has existed for more than 3000 years. From being consumed and used for rituals in ancient Mesoamerica, to finally being consumed as modern chocolate bars in the 1800s— chocolate has withstood the test of time.[4] But with these contemporary days challenging our notion of healthy diets, one may wonder if chocolate will stand the test of being labelled junk that needs to be limited or discarded. After all, some of the best tasting snacks aren’t always the healthiest.
Luckily, thanks to the hard work of many different researchers, the positive effects of chocolate on our health have been found. The following are ways in which chocolate can be healthy:
Brain Food
If you consume fruits, vegetables, or any type of plant product, your body may be taking in flavonoids. Flavonoids are six different types of compounds that do various things, such as providing the body with antioxidants to cutting down inflammation.[5] Dark chocolate is a specific type of chocolate that contains such compounds. The flavonoids in dark chocolate are thought to raise the flow of blood to the brain, thus resulting in great memory and reaction time.[6] In essence, dark chocolate can be considered food for thought.
Edible Sunscreen
While the flavonoids in chocolate may help the brain, they can also be of great help to the skin. In relation to both UV light and skin, flavonoids take out the UV-creating oxidants, plus absorb UV light that otherwise would have been taken in by the skin. Furthermore, research has shown that those who have consumed cocoa have reduced UV-induced reddening of the skin.[7]
Workout Snack
Whether it’s a snack for pre-workout or post-workout, the benefits are there for both. For a pre-workout meal, you may want to stock up on some dark chocolate. Research has shown that those who consume dark chocolate before working out had low oxidative stress, high blood glucose levels, and high insulin levels. Having low oxidative stress helps increase muscle recovery, while high blood glucose raises energy for training, and high insulin levels promote muscle grown.[8] For a post-workout meal, a nice cold glass of chocolate milk is great. Studies point to the protein content as the main benefit, whereas carbohydrate content exists as a additional gain, especially for the athletic.[9]
Sources:
1. World Atlas of Chocolate. (n.d.) Chocolate consumption. Simon Fraser University. Retrieved from: https://www.sfu.ca/geog351fall03/groups-webpages/gp8/consum/consum.html
2. Tan-Satioquia, J. (2015, July 23). Americans eat how much chocolate? CNBC. Retrieved from: https://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/23/americans-eat-how-much-chocolate.html
3. Shoup, M.E. (2021, June 16). Chocolate consumption on the rise, survey says. Food Navigator USA. Retrieved from: https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2021/06/16/Chocolate-consumption-on-the-rise-survey-finds
4. Fiegl, A. (2008, March 1). A Brief History of Chocolate. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved from: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-brief-history-of-chocolate-21860917/
5. Gunnars, K. (2021, July 27). 7 Proven Health Benefits of Chocolate. Healthline. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate
6. Dimitrova, M. (n.d.) Is Cocoa Good for the Brain? News Medical. Retrieved from: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Is-Cocoa-Good-for-the-Brain.aspx
7. Jones, C. (2020, July 15). Chocolate-Flavored Sunscreen. Mother Earth Living. Retrieved from: https://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/Chocolate-Flavored-Sunscreen/
8. Stoppani, J. (n.d.). Is Chocolate Good for You As Your Pre-Workout? Muscle & Fitness. Retrieved from: https://www.muscleandfitness.com/flexonline/flex-nutrition/chocolate-training/
9. UAMS Health. (2019, March 8). Is Chocolate Milk a Good Post-Workout Drink? UAMS Health. Retrieved from: https://uamshealth.com/medical-myths/is-chocolate-milk-a-good-post-workout-drink/
Article by: Jonathan A. Watson