Chocolate has a long been a favorite food of many cultures, including ancient Aztec and Mayan. But, only in recent times that the debate over whether eating chocolate - boon or bane has taken such strong proportions.

On the one side are the supporters who claim miraculous benefits of eating chocolate from curing cancer to acne to almost anything that can be cured. While most of the claims may be exaggerated, the jury is still out on whether there is any truth in these claims. The reason that chocolate is given this exalted status is because of the nutrients contained in it. Some of these are protein - needed for cell maintenance and repair; fat - varies, but generally about 30 percent fat, of which about 50 percent is saturated fat; vitamin E - a fat-soluble vitamin essential for cell membranes; calcium, phosphorus and magnesium - minerals essential for strong bones and teeth; iron - needed to form hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying compound in blood; caffeine and theobromine - nervous system stimulants; copper - assists iron metabolism, formation of melanin (in hair and skin) and functioning of the central nervous system; sugars - varies, but often about 50 percent; antioxidant phytochemicals (such as flavonoids) - cocoa beans, a main ingredient of chocolate (more so in dark chocolate), contain more than 600 plant chemicals, including antioxidants, that may protect against heart disease and cancer.

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On the other hand chocolate is also energy dense so eating chocolate even in small quantities leads to release of lot of energy. So, is eating chocolate a boon or bane? Well, the answer isn’t strictly yes or no. The answer will have to be that like everything else moderation should be practiced in eating chocolate. Excess of anything is harmful. Practice moderation.


tags: chocolate, cure cancer, chocolate health benefits

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