Health

While chocolate is regularly eaten for pleasure, there are potential beneficial health
effects of eating chocolate. Cocoa or dark chocolate benefits the circulatory system.[49]
Other beneficial effects suggested include anticancer, brain stimulator, cough preventor
and antidiarrhoeal effects.
On the other hand, the unconstrained consumption of large quantities of any energy-
rich food such as chocolate is thought to increase the risk of obesity without a
corresponding increase in activity. Raw chocolate is high in cocoa butter, a fat which is
removed during chocolate refining, then added back in in varying proportions during the
manufacturing process. Manufacturers may add other fats, sugars, and milk as well, all
of which increase the caloric content of chocolate.
Obesity risk
The major concern that nutritionists have is that even though eating dark chocolate may
not affect serum cholesterol, blood pressure or LDL oxidation, it is not known whether
it affects certain biomarkers of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the amount needed
to have this effect would provide a relatively large quantity of calories, which, if
unused, would promote weight gain. Obesity is a significant risk factor for many
diseases, including cardiovascular disease. As a consequence, consuming large
quantities of dark chocolate in an attempt to protect against cardiovascular disease has
been described as 'cutting off one's nose to spite one's face.
Chocolate has become one of the most popular food types and flavors in the
world. Gifts of chocolate molded into different shapes have become
traditional on certain holidays: chocolate bunnies and eggs are popular on
Easter, chocolate coins on Hanukkah, Santa Claus and other holiday
symbols on Christmas, and hearts on Valentine's Day. Chocolate is also used
in cold and hot beverages, to produce chocolate milk and hot chocolate. The
world's top producer of cacao beans is Africa, where recent controversy has
focused on the use of child labor in cocoa production.
Aunque el chocolate es comunmente ingerido por placer, existen efectos benéficos
sobre la salud asociados al consumo de chocolate. Cacao o el chocolate negro beneficia
al sistema circulatorio.[6] Otros efectos benéficos sugeridos incluyen efecto
anticanceroso, estimulador cerebral, antitusígeno y antidiarréico. Un efecto afrodisíaco
aun debe probarse.
Por otro lado el consumo incontrolado de gran cantidad de cualquier alimento rico en
calorias como el chocolate incrementa el riesgo de obesidad de no haber un
correspondiente aumento en actividad física. Chocolate crudo es rico en manteca de
cacao, un componente graso que es removido durante el refinamiento del chocolate para
luego ser añadido nuevamente en proporciones variables durante el procesamiento de
fabricación. Los fabricantes pueden agregar otras grasas, azúcares y leche todo lo cual
incrementa el contenido calórico del chocolate.
La mayor preocupación que tienen los nutricionistas es que aunque el comer chocolate negro
puede no afectar el colesterol sérico, la presión arterial o la oxidación LDL, no se sabe aún si
afecta favorablemente ciertos marcadores biológicos de la patología cardiovascular. Además, la
cantidad necesaria para tener este efecto proveería relativamente grandes cantidades de calorías
que de no ser usadas propiciarian un aumento de peso. La obesidad es un factor de riesgo
significativo para muchas enfermedades incluyendo enfermedad cardiovascular.[