Antioxidant in Chocolate: Is Chocolate Good for Me?

Maybe you've heard the rumor that chocolate may have some newly discovered health benefits? Who wouldn't want to believe that chocolate, something so many of us love, may actually keep us healthy?

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ran a study in 2001 on the effects of chocolate. The abstract stated when given to people with a healthy diet, chocolate and cocoa could serve as an additional source of antioxidants.

The study size was small, only 23 individuals participated, and it was funded by the American Cocoa Research Institute. The authors of the study stated that the benefits of eating chocolate were very small and perhaps even insignificant considering the small number of participants.

In addition to some antioxidants, chocolate does contain a high amount of fats, mainly of stearic acid. Considering you can get similar antioxidants from plants (without the fats), vegetables, fruits and grains are probably your best bet.

Fruits and vegetables have also been found to have many other health benefits in addition to providing us with antioxidants. And they aren't full of the extra calories found in chocolate! So unfortunately, as much as I'd like it to be, chocolate just isn't a health food and should really only be eaten in moderation.