Chocolate and alcohol are like twins that share a common heritage -- both may be good for you, and both may be bad for you.
The dividing line between the good and the bad depends on how much you eat or drink. It's the ultimate argument for moderation.
Take alcohol. Study after study shows that moderate drinking – usually defined as one or two drinks a day for men, and one for women -- can lead to declines in risk for heart attacks, strokes, and death from cardiovascular causes.
Another conclusion, however, is that those results could well be caused by other factors. People who drink moderately may also be exercising more and eating better anyway. While much attention centers on red wine as the "right" form of alcohol, it appears that the most important thing is not what you drink, but whether you drink too much on any given day.
So, alcohol in moderation, assuming you drink already, is the key.
You'd rather eat chocolate? Go for it, but also in moderation. Keep in mind that while chocolate – dark chocolate in particular – can be good for you, it is also packed with calories. A delicious bar of chocolate can contain about 400 calories, and that can add up quickly if you don’t make adjustments in the rest of your diet or exercise plan.
Still, it can be good for you if you keep those calories in mind. Dark chocolate can help reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. But be careful not to get chocolate that is mixed with extra sugar and milk, which increases fat and cholesterol content.
A great way to get the benefits of chocolate is hot cocoa, which is basically de-fatted chocolate. Cocoa ranks on the antioxidant scale with red wine and green tea, with less fat that a chocolate bar.
What's in Chocolate for You?
- There's more in chocolate than its ability to reduce LDL cholesterol and blood pressure.
- It can also make you feel a sense of pleasure because it stimulates endorphin production.
- You can also get a serotonin boost, which acts as an anti-depressant.
Drinking Up, Carefully
- Keep the moderation guidelines in mind, up to two drinks a day for men, one for women.
- If you don't drink already, you don't have to start. You can get the same benefits from diet and exercise.
- Drinkers should get at least 600 micrograms a day of folate, a B-vitamin. Alcohol can block the vitamin’s absorption, so taking extra is important.
Learn more about cholesterol
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