Question

Clinical Case 5

Eating Chocolate benefits

Scientists have been interested in the health effects of eating chocolate In this study, over 20,000 people in England and over 150,000 people worldwide were surveyed about the amount of chocolate that they ate. People who ate more chocolate had a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.

1. What are the effects of chocolate on health?

2. Do these surveys prove cause and effect? Is it possible that these results are coincidental?

3. Nonetheless, evidence from various sources seems to point to positive effects of dark chocolate on health. What is the difference between dark and milk or other types?

4. After reading this article, how will you change your chocolate-eating habits?

Answer 1

Ans :-) Chocolate has both positive and negative effects. Chocolate contain antioxidants. And the chocolate could lower cholesterol levels and prevent memory decline. This will reduces the risk of heart related disease and stroke.

But chocolate contain high calories, fat and sugar which can lead to gain in weight. This weight gain is risk factor for heart disease.

Ans :-2) The possible health benefits mentioned above come from single study. More research is needed that eating chocolate can be beneficial to our health. Chocolate bars not only contains cocoa. Therefore benefits and risks of any other ingredients need to be considered.

Ans :-3) Dark chocolate does not have any added milk solid. Generally dark chocolate contain higher percentage of cocoa and also they have low sugar content as compared to milk chocolate. Dark chocolate contains upto 4 times fibre than milk chocolate.

Manufacturers of milk chocolate claims that it contains milk and milk provides protein and calcium while manufacturers of dark chocolate claims that it contains higher iron content and higher level of antioxidants in their products.

Ans :-4) Since chocolate reduces risk of heart disease, so i think regular chocolate consumption can be a good thing. We should choose chocolate of any brand containing more than 70% cocoa and sugar, cadmium, fat etc level must be low.