*cue Imperial March*
Oh, 72% dark chocolate (from Trader Joe’s), how do I love thee…let me count the ways. Well, for one, it’s amazing. And two, it’s A-MAZE-ING! But, with most things, too much of a good thing could be bad. (sad but true) I figured it was time to do some research on it, since I’m pretty sure I have a problem (eating more than I should be allowed), and should probably seek help at this point.
But seriously, it’s not my fault! Dark chocolate is just so good. It hasn’t been a set back or anything…yet, but I’ve had the worst cravings for it lately. So the good thing is, is that the amount of sugar in dark chocolate is low. The higher the percentage a dark chocolate is, the less amount of sugar there is. 100% dark chocolate has no sugar. However, I did read that if you crave dark chocolate, you may have a magnesium deficiency. Chocolate is an antioxidant so it’s not all that bad, but if you’re eating a bar a day, it could mean you’re under eating…ugh, guilty. I also read that chocolate is a stimulant, so eating it too late in the day could affect your sleep. Bottom line…don’t over indulge.
Such interesting things you can find online. Too much dark chocolate (and it doesn’t take much apparently), can prove problematic. It can cause headaches, digestive problems, heartburn, and it some cases, even psychoactive effects. On the other hand, eating moderate amounts can actually be beneficial. FYI, to my calorie counting compadres…1.5 oz.of 70-85% will add 250 calories! That’s one pound of fat in 2 weeks!
Okay, so 72% is good for heart health, good cholesterol levels, and low in fat (in moderation). There’s a whole lotta caffeine in a little bit of dark chocolate, and lately (because I’ve been over doing the dark chocolate) I’ve been feeling really restless at night…think I figured out why. Guess I’ll be cutting down on dark chocolate…a lot.
“Strength is the ability to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands – and then eat just one of those pieces.”
-Judith Viorst-
