Dark Chocolate Guide: Benefits, Risks & Nutrition

Dark chocolate provides magnesium but also contains caffeine and fats that may trigger a gallbladder attack. Learn about the link between chocolate and estrogen, its safety during pregnancy, and how it affects skin health.

Overview

10 Healthy and Fun Halloween Treats to Hand Out

After Christmas, Halloween is the next most popular holiday of the year. Why? One word: Candy! Americans spend more than $2 billion dollars on Halloween treats, according to IBISWorld. About three-quarters of U.S.

Read more →
Healthy breakfast

9 Chocolate Desserts That Are Actually Good for You

Attention, all chocolate lovers: Chocolate is good for you! Cocoa is naturally rich in dietary polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Plus, they can help protect against fatty deposits on artery walls.

Read more →
Pieces of dark chocolate

Anemia & Chocolate

In the past, chocolate was deemed "the food of the gods," only for the elite to enjoy. Nowadays, everyone can enjoy the bittersweet taste of chocolate, as well as the health benefits that it provides.

Read more →
chocolate

How to Keep Melted Chocolate From Hardening When Cooled

Melted chocolate serves as an irresistible dip for strawberries, sugar cookies, marshmallows and chunks of pound cake, or as a topping for ice cream. But if the chocolate hardens, you can no longer dip into it or pour it -- and the magic is lost.

Read more →
Cocoa pods

Are There Adverse Effects of Raw Chocolate?

The primary ingredient in chocolate is cacao, a bean that grows in the South American rain forest. Most commercial chocolate goes through a roasting process. Raw chocolate has not been roasted, so consumers of raw chocolate are eating raw cacao with a few additional ingredients to hold it together.

Read more →
Woman enjoying a box of chocolates

5 Things You Need to Know About Chocolate and Gluten

Gluten is a protein found in wheat and its derivatives, and can appear in a wide array of foods. Aside from obvious forms of wheat such as bread, pastries, pizza and cookies, gluten is found in almost all packaged foods because it is used as a stabilizer to extend the shelf life of products.

Read more →
Chambermaid relaxing on bed, eating chocolates

Can Chocolate Cause Bloating & Gas?

Gas is a presence of air in your digestive tract, sometimes caused by the breakdown of certain foods, and bloating can be a symptom of gas. Because there's air in your system, it can feel as though your abdomen is swollen and heavy.

Read more →
Woman enjoying a box of chocolates

Does Chocolate Give You Energy?

When you hit a slump in the afternoon, you might be tempted to drink coffee or try an energy drink. Consider reaching for chocolate instead. It is a natural energy booster that contains caffeine and will increase your endorphins to give you a quick pick-me-up.

Read more →

Dark Chocolate & Magnesium

Dark chocolate is considered a "cheat" food by many individuals, but there actual health benefits from eating a moderate amount. It does contain a significant amount of magnesium, a mineral your body needs for a variety of functions.

Read more →
Woman eating a chocolate

Do Chocolates Cause a Gallbladder Attack?

The gallbladder is a small sac under the liver that stores bile. Common diseases of the gallbladder include gallstones and cholecystitis, an inflammation of the gallbladder. Diet and food allergies can affect your gallbladder, especially if you already have a gallbladder condition.

Read more →
Dark chocolate

Does Dark Chocolate Cause Pimples?

Acne is a skin condition that causes a variety of pimples, or comedones, such as whiteheads, blackheads or cysts. Some foods, such as dark chocolate, can trigger breakouts if you have acne; however, acne triggers vary from person to person.

Read more →
bars of chocolate

Can Eating Chocolate Make Your Throat Burn?

Chocolate is made from cocoa solids, which comes from the beans of the Theobroma cacao plant. Cocoa solids contain flavonoids, which are health-promoting antioxidants.

Read more →
Chocolate fondue

How to Make Dipping Chocolate Thinner

Melted chocolate is often used as a dip for fruits, pastries and other sweet indulgences. However, if the dipping chocolate is too thick, it can overpower the foods dipped into it or not adhere to their surfaces.

Read more →

How to Replace Oil with Applesauce in Brownies

Brownies have been a part of American food history for almost a century and a half, with early recipes calling for up to a half cup of butter. Though many modern recipes and mixes call for oil instead of butter, they are still not diet friendly since oil contains around 120 calories and 12 grams of fat per tablespoon.

Read more →
Heart-Shaped Box of Candy

Chocolate and Estrogen Levels

Eating chocolate causes most people to feel great, "Psychology Today" notes. This is because chocolate contains anandamide, a neurotransmitter that elevates your mood. What is interesting is that women feel the strongest desire to eat chocolate prior to and during their menstrual cycle.

Read more →
Pregnant woman eating chocolate

How Much Chocolate Is Safe When You Are Pregnant?

Pregnancy requires caution when it comes to certain foods that increase the risk of harm to your baby and could compromise your pregnancy. Chocolate is safe to eat while you are pregnant and may even offer health benefits in moderate amounts.

Read more →
Boy eating chocolate bar

Is Expired Chocolate Edible?

If you are in the habit of maintaining an emergency stockpile of chocolate for stressful days, you may occasionally find that some of your supply has become outdated. This raises the obvious question of whether you can still eat the chocolate, especially if it's all you have left and you really, really need some.

Read more →