Sure, its delicious but chocolate has lots of health benefits, too. It contains flavonoids, which act as antioxidants to protect the body from damage caused by free radicals, which can lead to heart disease, maybe even cancer. Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body. Chocolate can also improve digestion and stimulate the kidneys. It has been used to help people with anemia, kidney stones, and poor appetite. It also lessens anxiety by producing the neurotransmitter, serotonin, from the tryptophan in the chocolate. All this is great news. But like most things in life, chocolate also has its drawbacks.
The best kind of chocolate is raw, or minimally processed. Sugar that is often mixed with chocolate candies has its own downside and that has to be considered when deciding how much of a wonder food chocolate really is. The other drawback of chocolate is that one cannot avoid ingesting caffeine along with the flavonoids and antioxidants. There are approximately 6 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per ounce of chocolate, which is about the amount found in decaffeinated coffee. Although this is a lot less than what is found in a typical serving of soda or coffee, for those with specific heart conditions, such as palpitations or arrhythmia, chocolate may not be as beneficial. Chocolate is also high in calories.
Whats an alternative?Its the look-a-like carob -- rich in B vitamins and minerals and much lower in calories. When you compare it to chocolate it really takes the cake:Carob vs. Chocolate 1 cup = 8 ouncesCarob Chocolate252 calories 1144 2 grams fat 120 grams493 calcium 1031.13 carbohydrates 120And carob has twice as much fiber, gram for gram, as chocolate and neither of chocolates drawbacks: caffeine and high calories.Carob is dark brown like chocolate. But its not a fruit, a vegetable, or an artificial conglomeration. Carob is a seed pod that grows on evergreen trees native to Mediterranean countries. Straight from the tree, carob has a leathery skin thats dry, brown and flat. After the pod is picked, its broken up into tiny pieces called kipple and the seeds are removed. The kipple is then roasted and ground into powder.The pod has a long and noble history. Roman legions thrived on it and John the Baptist took it into the desert. Carob even kept Wellingtons Calvary going during the Peninsula Campaign.You can find carob in health food stores. Its available in several forms: bar, tablet, powder, wafer, and syrup. And it usually costs less than chocolate. Thats a definite plus for your purse.Robin Westen is ThirdAges medical reporter. Check for her daily updates. She is the author of Ten Days to Detox: How to look and feel a decade younger.See what others have to say about this story or leave a comment of your own.
