Aliquot #64: Benefits and risks of eating chocolate
Aliquot #64: Benefits and risks of eating chocolate
Chocolate and its principal component, cocoa, are popular topics – no doubt because they taste so good. But a wide range of beneficial health effects have been ascribed to the consumption of cocoa and chocolate, including improved cardiovascular and cognitive health. Consuming chocolate and cocoa may carry some risks, however, due to their cadmium content and possible effects on the fetus during pregnancy. In this Aliquot, I describe some of the research on the benefits and risks of consuming cocoa and chocolate, as foods or supplements.
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Chocolate and its principal component, cocoa, are popular topics – no doubt because they taste so good. But a wide range of beneficial health effects have been ascribed to the consumption of cocoa and chocolate, including improved cardiovascular and cognitive health. Consuming chocolate and cocoa may carry some risks, however, due to their cadmium content and possible effects on the fetus during pregnancy. In this Aliquot, I describe some of the research on the benefits and risks of consuming cocoa and chocolate, as foods or supplements.
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Introduction
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Chocolates with highest flavanoid content (Q&A #34 segments)
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Saturated fats in chocolate
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Safety concerns about cadmium
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Supplementing with cocoa extract
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Heart, brain, and skin (Q&A #11 segments)
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Pregnancy and breastfeeding (Q&A 14 segment)
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