Also known as black chocolate, dark chocolate is made by adding sugar and fat to cocoa. This type of chocolate contains no milk, or a lot less than in milk chocolate.
Despite the wealth of positive media coverage dark chocolate has received for its myriad of health benefits, an article in "USA Today" states more research is needed before you start overindulging on this treat. Chocolate contains large amounts of butter, sugar and cream, which can break your diet.
Causes weight gain and heart disease
Just one ounce or 28.35 grams of dark chocolate contains 9 grams of fat, 5grams of saturated fat, 13 grams of sugar and 156 calories. Saturated fat will raise your blood cholesterol, and this will put you at risk for stroke and heart disease. In chocolate, the added sugar has no nutritional value, and this can cause heart disease and weight gain.
Creates anxiety
It's a concern that the caffeine in a large quantity of dark chocolate could worsen anxiety disorders.
Cavities
Chocolate also has the potential of causing tooth decay in children. Processed chocolate contains a high amount of sugar. When consumed by children over a long time can decay their tooth decay.
Diabetes
It appears that dark chocolate can raise blood sugar levels, and it could also interfere with blood sugar control for anyone with diabetes.
Gastro esophageal reflux disease
It appears that dark chocolate can keep the valve in the esophagus (the food tube) from working properly, which keeps the contents of the stomach from coming back into the airway or food tube, making GERD worse.
Complicates a surgery
During and after a surgical procedure, dark chocolate could interfere with the control of blood sugar. Do not eat dark chocolate two weeks at least before a scheduled surgery.
Causes irregular, rapid heartbeat
The cocoa found in dark chocolate or products containing dark chocolate can increase the heart rate, or make an irregular heartbeat even worse.
If you only eat occasionally to satisfy a craving or relieve stress, that is ok, but eating too much could have adverse effects on your health. It doesn't take much dark chocolate to start creating problems for your health. Just a small amount contains enough fat, calories and sugar to make your body react in ways that are not favorable.
