Since Spanish explorers brought back chocolate from the new world, chocolate
consumption has become a worldwide phenomenon. At first, chocolate, a derivative
of the cacao bean, was consumed as a drink, only later achieving mass popularity in
tablet or bar form. However, chocolate’s inherent popularity does not equate to it
possessing healthy properties, as suggested by the title. The realities of chocolate
are more down to earth; a number of these realities will be addressed in this essay.
Chocolate has chemical properties that can influence mood and there is possible
evidence for some positive impacts of chocolate on cardiovascular health. Yet, such
positive attributes are counterbalanced somewhat by the argument that, in some
instances, chocolate can be viewed as a drug rather than a food. Moreover, there is
the possibility of some correlation between over-consumption of chocolate and
obesity. Thus, it will be argued that despite chocolate’s positive effect in some cases
on mood and the cardiovascular system it has also been linked to addiction and
obesity.