Chocolate Is Not a Superfood (but It's Still Super)

Its many health benefits are proven.

It’s really good for you, right?

Let’s take a closer look.

Researchers call this effect ahealth halo.

There’s no such rule in the US.

Theresearch arm of the Chocolate Manufacturers Association of America.

There’s a reason why you’re reading about chocolate now.

Interest in the health benefits of chocolate tends topeak around Februaryeach year.

So it’s not even an indulgence, right?

It’s practically a health food.

What Does the Research Actually Say?

The USDA stopped publishing ORAC tables in 2012 because ORAC values don’t correlate with biological activity.

They’re meaningless trivia.

Is cocoa good for your heart?

But a couple points of blood pressure is better than nothing, right?

It is derived from cocoa beans so I can understand the confusion.

Chocolate per se might have a little bit of these cocoa flavonols but at very minuscule amounts.

So as a physician I’m a little worried about the headlines that say, ‘Eat chocolate.’

I am not suggesting that."

I’ll skip that.

It’s delicious, so I say eat all the chocolate you want.

(Go ahead, I’ll wait.)

You ate it because it was good, right?

Not because you think it’s going to make you super healthy.

Let’s say you do want to take advantage of the health benefits.

Which chocolate is best?

Technically, minimally-processed cocoa powder has the most antioxidants.

We’re comparing dark chocolate to chocolate-flavored muffins and chocolate-flavored oatmeal.

One WebMD article on the health benefits of chocolate includes arecipe for chocolate raspberry pound cake.

Still, some of the blood pressure studies did show a real-world benefit from dark chocolate.

In the lab, at least,antioxidant content of chocolate correlates with cocoa percentage.

The US FDArequiresat least 35% cocoa content for a chocolate to be called dark.

Fancy chocolate brands often label the cocoa content.

Hershey’s Special Dark is a mere45% cocoa.

Compared to milk chocolate, dark chocolate has less sugar, more fat, and more fiber.

It depends why you’re eating it.

But you know what?

You don’t need anyone’s permission to enjoy chocolate (or anything else, for that matter.)

You don’t need to pretend that it’s healthy.

Photos byMartin Cooper,Mike Mozart,Jim Bauer,US Navy,Clint Budd.