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If you're a fan of chocolate you're in good company. Chocolate is one of the most popular sweet - tasting treats in the world and has been for centuries. But part of the myth surrounding chocolate is that it tastes so good it must be bad for your health, which gives it an air of the forbidden.

如果你是个巧克力钟爱者，那么你有很多志趣相投的伙伴。数百年来巧克力是世界上人们最喜爱的甜食之一。但关于巧克力有这么个说法：它如此美味，定然有害健康，这使人们形成禁食巧克力的意识。

A beautifully wrapped box of chocolates has always been considered a very romantic gift. So if the special person in your life is a self-confessed chocoholic, you know one surefire way to please them on special occasions. But the surprising news from the scientific community is that this reputedly decadent treat actually has some health benefits, especially if you choose your chocolate wisely.

一盒包装精美的巧克力通常被看做非常浪漫的礼物。所以如果你生命中那个特别的人坦言自己贪恋巧克力，那么你有了在特别场合下取悦她们的万全之法。但来自科学界令人惊讶的消息称，这个据说对我们不利的甜食实际上对人的健康益处多多，尤其是如果能够明智地挑选适合你的巧克力。

Is Chocolate A Healthy Food?

巧克力是健康食品吗？

Chocolate contains over 300 chemicals, and has been the subject of a number of studies by universities and other scientific organizations. Here's a quick rundown of the results. We have no way of proving or disproving these claims so we offer them here as a stimulus for further research. If you're really interested in the subject, this may provide you with a starting point.

巧克力含有300多种化学成分，已经成为许多大学和其它科学组织研究的对象。这是一份研究结果的大致纲要。我们还没有方法来证实或反驳这些结论，因此我们在此为大家列出以激励进一步的研究。如果你真的对这个话题感兴趣，这也许可以为你提供一个起点。

* Cacao, the source of chocolate, contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. Of course this is counteracted by the high sugar content of milk chocolate.

巧克力的原料可可含有抗菌物，可以防治蛀牙。当然，抗菌剂与奶油巧克力的高含糖量相互抵消。

* The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.

巧克力的香味可以增加θ脑电波，使身心得到放松。

* Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator.

巧克力含有苯基乙胺，是温和的情绪调节剂。

* The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which may raise good cholesterol.

巧克力中的可可油含有油酸，这种不饱和脂肪会增加良性胆固醇。

* Drinking a cup of hot chocolate before meals may actually diminish appetite.

饭前喝一杯热巧克力会降低食欲。

* Men who eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don't.

吃巧克力的人比不吃的人长寿一年。

* The flavanoids in chocolate may help keep blood vessels elastic.

巧克力中的黄酮类物质有助于保持血管的弹性。

* Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.

巧克力可以提高血液的抗氧化物含量。

* Mexican healers use chocolate to treat bronchitis and insect bites.

墨西哥医生用巧克力医治支气管炎和蚊虫叮咬。

* The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.

巧克力中的碳水化合物可以提高大脑的血清素水平，使人感到愉悦快乐。

What Chocolate Won't Do.

巧克力不会造成的是：

* Studies show that chocolate is not a causative factor in acne.

研究结果显示巧克力不是导致痤疮/粉刺的病因。

* Cacao contains the stimulants caffeine and bromine, but in such small quantities that they don't cause nervous excitability.

可可含有兴奋剂咖啡因和溴，但是含量太少，不会造成神经兴奋。

* Chocolate is not addictive.

巧克力不会使人上瘾。

* Chocolate contains stearic acid, a neutral fat which doesn't raise bad cholesterol.

巧克力含有硬脂酸，一种不会增加恶性胆固醇的中性脂肪。

* Chocolate doesn't make you 'high'. You'd need to eat a huge quantity (about 25lbs at one sitting) to feel any noticeable effect.

巧克力不会使你兴奋。你需要吃大量（一口气大约吃25磅）的巧克力才能感觉到明显的反应。

But on the Negative Side ...

但也有负面影响……

* Chocolate may trigger headaches in migraine sufferers.

巧克力会引发偏头痛患者头疼。

* Milk chocolate is high in calories, saturated fat and sugar.

奶油巧克力的卡路里、饱和脂肪和糖的含量都很高。

What about Chocolate and Your Pets?

宠物对巧克力有何反应？

* Chocolate is considered dangerous to animals because it contains a stimulant called theobromine, which they can't digest.

对动物来说，巧克力是个危险品，因为它含有一种叫可可碱的兴奋物，动物无法消化这种物质。

* Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are even more dangerous because they contain higher concentrations of the substance.

黑巧克力和可可浆更危险，因为它们的可可碱含量更高。

* If a pet becomes ill after eating chocolate, take it to the vet immediately.

如果宠物吃了巧克力出现病状，立即带它去看兽医。

This applies whether chocolate is in candy bar form, or an ingredient in cake, cookies, puddings or ice cream.

不管是吃了单独包装的巧克力棒，还是蛋糕、饼干、布丁或冰激凌中的巧克力成分，都应立即带宠物看医生。

Dark Chocolate Versus Milk Chocolate

黑巧克力VS牛奶巧克力

Dark chocolate contains more cacao and less sugar than milk chocolate. It follows that any health benefits would be more pronounced in dark chocolate.

与牛奶巧克力相比，黑巧克力的可可含量更高，含糖量更低。因此有关黑巧克力有利健康的报道也就更多。

You'll need to do a little research if you have any health concerns about eating chocolate. But with products like gluten-free and sugar-free brands finding their way onto supermarket shelves, you're sure to find some form of chocolate you can enjoy with a clear conscience.

如果你担心吃巧克力会不利健康，那么你需要研究一下。不过随着像无麸质和无糖面包等产品在超市货架上的出现，你一定能找到可以尽情享用的巧克力。