Myths About Chocolate

Sweet! Candy Prevents Kids from Getting Fat (and Other Myths Debunked)

For them. But a study published in Food & Nutrition Research says that researchers at Louisiana State University found that little kids who ate candy were 22 percent less likely to be overweight or obese, and adolescents with a sweet tooth were 26 percent less likely to be fat than their non-candy-eating counterparts.

Buzzing with excitement over the news, kids everywhere are now pooling their allowance money to commission research in the hope of debunking other notorious myths. The top priorities on their list are as follows:

Sierra Black is a blogger, writer and mother. Her personal essays have appeared in Mothering Magazine, the New York Times and Babble. Sierra writes primarily about parenting, personal finance and green living. When she's not chasing deadlines or toddlers, Sierra spends her time gardening, crafting and finding new non-toxic ways to get crayon off the walls. Before she answered to Mommy, Sierra was a features reporter for the Eagle-Tribune newspaper. To follow her adventures parenting three kids in the Boston area check out her personal blog, ChildWild. Dawn Damalas Meehan is a single mom, living in Chicago with her six children, ages 16-4. She's the author of Because I Said So and You'll Lose the Baby Weight (and Other Lies About Pregnancy and Childbirth). When she's not blogging, she can be found playing chauffeur, getting buried under a mountain of laundry, or explaining to her kids why they can't have an indoor Slip 'N Slide or a pet squirrel.

Myths About Chocolate - News

Sweet! Candy Prevents Kids from Getting Fat (and Other Myths Debunked)

are now pooling their allowance money to commission research in the hope of debunking other notorious myths. The top priorities on their list are as follows: Carrots only help eyesight if first smothered in chocolate and covered with sprinkles.

New facts on fat dispel old myths

Try peanut butter and apple; hummus and pita pieces; or a tasty trail mix of almonds, seeds and a little dark chocolate (chocolate's allowed … we do need some saturated fat!) And last but not least, it tastes good. Fat improves the taste and "mouth

New Bid to Dispel Myths About Gum Disease

Myth: Only the sugar in sweets, cakes, fizzy drinks and chocolate is bad for our teeth. Wrong – you should also limit consumption of dried fruit, fruit juice, sports drinks and honey, particularly between meals, as these can also cause tooth decay.

Why The “Chocolate Milk Diet” Won't Work

Not surprisingly, 100% chose chocolate milk.” Gatorade also has electrolytes. How do the mystical-sounding “naturally occurring electrolytes” in milk hydrate you better than water? There are a lot of myths surrounding electrolytes, especially with

Five diabetes myths, busted

5) Myth: People with diabetes can't eat sweets or chocolate. Fact: Sweet foods (including most dessert items), if eaten in small portions, can be eaten by people with diabetes. There is no such thing as a “off limit” food; however,

Eating Healthy Meals: Health Advantages of Dark Chocolate

Chocolate is a vegetable, therefore it is good for you. Well, maybe not quite accurate, but there are some true health benefits of dark chocolate.

* Full of antioxidants: Because chocolate is so good, we tend to forget that it comes from a plant. Plants naturally produce antioxidants to help protect them from harsh growing conditions. Two tablespoons of natural cocoa have more antioxidant capabilities than 4 cups of green tea, 1 cup of blueberries, and one and a half glasses of red wine.

* Helps maintain blood sugar levels: Despite its sweetness, dark chocolate is low on the glycemic index, which means eating it won’t make your blood sugar spike like other sweet foods. Studies show that the flavanols in cocoa actually help improve circulation and keep blood vessels healthy.

* Contains vital minerals: Copper, magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron are all present in dark chocolate. Each of these minerals is necessary for optimum health.

* Good for your heart: Studies are showing that dark chocolate is very beneficial for good heart health. The powerful antioxidants and flavanols help to relax and open the arteries allowing for good blood flow to the heart.

* Cancer fighting: Recent studies are showing cocoa as a cancer fighting food.

* Memory booster: Further research is showing that the flavanols in cocoa are also good for boosting the memory and brain function in rats. Studies on humans have yet to be done.

* Immune system control: Flavanols found in cocoa have been shown to help control the immune system and protect the body against disease like arthritis.

Several myths have surrounded chocolate regarding its effect on health. Here are the facts:

* Myth: Chocolate causes acne. Fact: Studies dating back to the 1960’s show that eating chocolate does not cause acne. As a matter of fact, science shows there is no direct link between acne and diet.

* Myth: Allergies to chocolate are common. Fact: Chocolate is not a common food allergen. People who have food allergies are probably allergic to one of the other ingredients possibly found in chocolate such as tree nuts, milk, eggs, peanuts or soy.

* Myth: Chocolate contains a lot of caffeine. Fact: Milk chocolate contains about as much caffeine as decaffeinated coffee. However, chocolate does contain theobromine, a relative of caffeine, but it is much less powerful than caffeine.

* Myth: Chocolate causes migraines. Fact: No correlation between migraines and chocolate has ever been found.