Determined To Succeed

Good Sunday morning, my friends (yaaaaaaawwwwwwnnnnnn). And how are we today?

Life has a funny way of doing things sometimes. Remember how I had to go to the dentist, not once but twice, to get my tooth “fixed?” Well…I am headed back a third time tomorrow morning because it just feels – how should I put it – wrong. It feels achy, in a strained, empty sort of way, not in a direct pain sort of way. So, just as a precaution I am going in first thing in the morning.

The last time I was there and getting things “fixed” they didn’t say to me “well, Bill. For the next 48-hours you shouldn’t have this or that,” which is what I guy like me needs. I need some simple, clear instructions about what to eat and not. It is driving me nuts, this tooth-o-mine. As I was out and about yesterday I pondered this and, almost instinctively, reached for a plain Hershey bar in the Wawa. As I did that I caught myself, gave me the tisk-tisk and walked away. But I started thinking about chocolate. Does it really cause cavities? Is it really all that bad for you?

The answer is yes…and no.

Like with all things in the scientific, health-related worlds there are conflicting data. Ugh. I like my chocolate (he says whining).

On the “go-ahead-and-eat-chocolate” side, Dr. Rutai Hui of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College in Beijing and his colleagues did analysis of eight different studies and showed that eating chocolate might bring down cholesterol levels in some people, lower blood pressure and that chocolate eaters were less likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack over the next 10 years.

That’s because they were freaking happy, that’s why (just kidding).

Dr. Hui looked at how cocoa affected blood fats, or lipids, and found eight trials including 215 people. When the studies were analyzed together, the team found eating cocoa cut levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol, by about 6 mg/dL and reduced total cholesterol by the same amount. Analysis also showed that only those who ate small amounts of cocoa — containing 260 milligrams or less of polyphenols — experienced cholesterol lowering effects. People who consumed more showed no effect (polyphenols are antioxidants found typically in fruits, vegetables, chocolate and red wine. A 1.25 ounce bar of milk chocolate contains about 300 milligrams of polyphenols). The team also found that healthy people didn’t get any cholesterol benefits from cocoa, but people with risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, saw their LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol drop by about 8 mg/dL each.

There’s even research that shows chocolate can protect against tooth decay.

Huh?

A study carried out by researchers at Osaka University in Japan found that parts of the cocoa bean, the main ingredient of chocolate, thwart mouth bacteria and tooth decay. They discovered that the cocoa bean husk – the outer part of the bean which usually goes to waste in chocolate production – has an anti-bacterial effect on the mouth and can fight effectively against dental plaque and other damaging agents.

See, now there’s a medical reason to have my plain Hershey bar (just kidding again).

Foods that contain fermentable carbohydrates (FCs) are the nasty cavity-causing culprit. Although FCs are found in chocolate, the cocoa butter in chocolate coats the teeth, making it less likely to cause tooth decay. Chocolate may be high in sugar, but it melts quickly in your mouth, leaving little time for bacteria to attack your teeth and cause cavities. Plus, if you brush regularly, you won’t have a problem!

On the “O.k.-step-away-from-the-chocolate” side…

Pure cocoa has positive effects on blood pressure and cholesterol and also prevents heart disease. However, processed chocolate is what the majority of people are eating, and it contains added sugar, milk fats, saturated fats and corn syrup. These ingredients actually promote heart disease, weight gain, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Also, even dark chocolate is packed with calories. Its fat content may not cause cardiovascular disease, but eating it in large quantities can result in weight gain. (WHY ARE THERE ALWAYS CALORIES? IN THE NEW WORLD ORDER I AM ABOLISHING ALL CALORIES).

The refined sugar in processed chocolate can be detrimental to your teeth when eaten often without regular and proper teeth brushing. Sugar plays a harmful role in tooth decay by providing the bacteria in your mouth with energy. The bacteria begin to multiply faster, and plaque begins to grow in size and thickness on your teeth. Bacteria can also use sugar as a type of glue to cling to your teeth, making it difficult to get rid of with just a toothbrush.

Sugar can also cause and aggravate gum disease. Milk chocolate, along with other sweets, should be consumed only in moderate amounts. It is especially important to monitor the amount of sweets eaten by children to prevent bad habits (including childhood obesity), and tooth and gum problems later on.

So there it is. The good and bad of having a chocolate sweet tooth. I know it’s a bit long-winded, especially for a Sunday morning, but it does make for some interesting reading. I know there is no substitute for good chocolate but fruits provide the same health advantages of dark chocolate without the calories and saturated fats. They also contain natural sugar for those who crave sweets. If you must have chocolate (like yours truly), buy it in the smallest serving sizes possible (like those bite-size Halloween portions). This prevents you from eating up all of your calories for the day but satisfies your cravings.

And what have we learned? Eating some chocolate is O.K. Check. Especially if it’s dark chocolate. Check. Even better if it’s straight cocoa (although I have no idea how that would taste). Check, check. Brush teeth regularly. Double Dog Dare Check. Visit dentist regularly…

Yeah. No kidding…