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Melting Away the Chocolate Myths

Chocolate

Chocolate may be sweet, but it's got a pretty bad rap. You've heard that you'll break out or lose all your teeth if you eat too much of it, right? Before you return that box of chocolates your BF/GF gave you for Valentine's Day, get the real facts on chocolate right here.

Does It Cause Zits?

No, acne isn't caused by chocolate itself, but by the milk that it's mixed with. In fact, real chocolate, which is very bitter, contains antioxidants, which can actually help your skin look better.

Does It Cause Cavities?

No, foods that contain fermentable carbohydrates (FCs) are the nasty cavity-causing culprit. Although FCs are found in chocolate, the cocoa butter in chocolate coats the teeth, making it less likely to cause tooth decay. Chocolate may be high in sugar, but it melts quickly in your mouth, leaving little time for bacteria to attack your teeth and cause cavities. Plus, if you brush regularly, you won't have a problem!

Is It High in Caffeine?

No, the amount of caffeine in a piece of chocolate is a lot lower than a cup of coffee. A regular cup of coffee has 130-150 mg of caffeine, while an ounce of milk chocolate contains only 6 mg.

Does It Cause Heart Disease?

No, real chocolate can actually help prevent heart problems cuz it's high in cocoa butter, which reduces cholesterol. Real chocolate is also high in vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, calcium and potassium (found in bananas), which all help muscles, joints and nerves function normally.

Does It Cause Cancer?

No, dark chocolate is a great source of flavonoids, which contain antioxidants that protect you from toxic stuff in the environment like cigarette smoke. Scientists have found that dark chocolate has four times the antioxidants of green tea! Approximately 100 ml of tea (half a cup) contains 13.9 mg of catechins (an antioxidant that fights cancer), whereas 100 g of chocolate has 53.5 mg.