Common Myths About Chocolate

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The world's favorite comfort food is a magnet for myths and myth-conceptions, so we thought we'd clear a few up. And so we present, for your delectation: four common myths about chocolate.

It's not all that surprising that there are so many myths about chocolate, given the importance that many of us place upon it in our lives. After all, if it was just something boring instead of the richest, tastiest thing on Earth, who would care if there were myths surrounding it?

But since it's a rare individual who doesn't at least like chocolate, we thought you might want to know the truth about some of those old wives' tales you've been handed over the years. Here are four myths you can sink your teeth into.

Myth 1: Chocolate causes acne.

We all heard this one during our adolescences, but we're here to tell you that this is just one of the more heinous myths about chocolate. Study after study has proven conclusively that chocolate doesn't contribute to acne at all, in any way. And no, the sugar in milk chocolate doesn't cause it either.

Though acne isn't entirely understood, we do have a good idea of what causes it: oily skin, high bacteria levels on that skin and (especially in the case of young people), hormones. Pimples are caused when pores get blocked and get infected, period. Please don't blame the chocolate!

Myth 2: Chocolate cures cancer.

This myth about chocolate is more on the lines of wishful thinking. While there is such a thing as medicinal chocolate, and theobromine (its main chemical ingredient) can be used to regulate vasodilation and aid urination, it's not a cure-all -- though wouldn't that be nice?

Myth 3: Chocolate is high in caffeine.

Not really. While there's usually some caffeine present in chocolate, what it's really high in is theobromine, the chemical mentioned in the previous myth. Theobromine is a relative of caffeine, but it's not quite as potent. Now, eat some chocolate-covered coffee beans, and you'll get an overdose of both!

Also known as xanthose, theobromine is a "lesser homologue" of the more familiar caffeine, which may explain this myth about chocolate. Despite the name there's no bromine involved; "theobromine" comes from the generic name of the cacao tree, Theobroma, which appropriately enough means "food of the gods."

Myth 4: Chocolate can give you headaches.

Some migraine sufferers have in the past blamed chocolate for their headaches, but a recent study of 63 subjects revealed that chocolate wasn't one of their headache triggers. Admittedly this is a small sample, but it jibes with other studies that show chocolate isn't implicated in regular headaches, either.

So the next time you reach for that candy bar, you needn't worry about it giving you a headache. You don't have to worry about ingesting too much caffeine, either. And while chocolate's no cure-all, at least it won't trigger any acne breakouts. Now: aren't you glad you've learned the truth concerning these myths about chocolate?


Source:  http://www.mythbusters.com/common-myths-about-chocolate.html
 
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