Chocolate/cocoa has been known for its good taste and
proposed health effects for centuries. Earlier, chocolate
used to be criticised for its fat content and its consumption
was a sin rather than a remedy, associated with acne,
caries, obesity, high blood pressure, coronary artery
disease and diabetes. Therefore, many physicians tended
to warn patients about the potential health hazards of
consuming large amounts of chocolate. However, the
recent discovery of biologically active phenolic compounds
in cocoa has changed this perception and stimulated
research on its effects in ageing, oxidative stress, blood
pressure regulation, and atherosclerosis. Today, chocolate is
lauded for its tremendous antioxidant potential. However,
in many studies, contradictory results and concerns
about methodological issues have made it hard for health
professionals and the public to understand the available
evidence on chocolate’s effects on health. The purpose of
this review is to interpret research done in the last decade
on the benefits and risks of chocolate consumption