Chocolate – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

There are many health benefits to eating chocolate, such as its antioxidant power and sources of healthy fats. It can even improve your mood. You can find beauty products that contain chocolate, too. If you are looking for a way to boost your mood, you can try a chocolate massage. Body by Brooklyn, for example, offers a 90-minute chocolate massage that uses melted dark chocolate mixed with massage oil.

Health benefits of chocolate

Chocolate is a popular treat, but it does have its negative effects. It is high in fat and sugar, and studies have found that it can contribute to an increased risk of obesity. However, there is good news, too: research is now showing that chocolate consumption has many positive health benefits.

Antioxidant power of cocoa butter

Cocoa butter is packed with antioxidants that protect your skin and body from aging. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and tocopherol, which fight free radicals. In addition to its antioxidant power, cocoa butter has hydrating and protective properties. This is because it helps reduce water loss from your skin and forms a protective layer.

It boosts your mood

Chocolate contains serotonin, which helps your body feel better. It also contains endorphins, which stimulate the brain and make you feel good. However, it’s not a good idea to replace your daily fruits and vegetables with chocolate; instead, you should stick to eating a well-balanced diet. Chocolate does have some health benefits, but you should also limit your consumption.

It raises people out of poverty

Chocolate raises people out of poverty by giving them an income and improving their lives. The cocoa farmer receives between three and six percent of the retail price of a bar of chocolate. Considering that an average bar of chocolate costs $3.49, this represents about $0.20 per cocoa bean. The farmer’s income is low enough that a small percentage of the price is lost in the production process, but it is still not enough to make ends meet. The farmer must be compensated for her labor in order to survive.

It raises the standard of living

Chocolate manufacturing is a lucrative business, raking in billions of dollars a year for big companies and their shareholders. However, the high cost of production means that many cocoa farmers struggle to make ends meet. While chocolate companies have high profit margins, farmers earn less than a dollar a day. As a result, they don’t have a voice in determining the prices they receive for their cocoa.