Yes, you may feel you are addicted to chocolate because . . .

  • sugar may stimulate the release of serotonin, the “happy hormone” or beta-endorphins which give the “runner’s high”
  • caffeine may give you a mental boost
  • amines may increase heart rate and blood pressure giving you the feeling of being “in love”
  • or it may just be the “melt in your mouth” sensory experience

Yes, there are some health benefits . . .

High quality chocolate made from cocoa butter or liquor contains flavonoids, which may reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers, and stearic acid, a fat that does not raise blood cholesterol. (These are not found in lower quality chocolate made from saturated oils such as palm and coconut oil.)


But, here’s the bottom-line:
  • chocolate is not a drug, a medicine or in a food group (too bad!). It is still just a candy. So, the less you choose the better
  • a small chocolate bar (50g) contains roughly 270 calories ie 2-3 tspns fat and 3-4 tspns sugar

When your craving overwhelms you, choose the smallest amount of the highest quality chocolate . . . and enjoy!