By Sam Holifield, LPHS Hi Times writer

chocolate   Chocolate is a favorite food for most people. The sweet taste is more addicting than most. But the sweetest secret of all is out: Chocolate can be healthy.

   “I would consider myself a moderate chocolate eater. If there is chocolate in the house, I will definitely gorge myself on it,” said LaPorte High School junior Rachel Osborn.

   Chocolate is made from plants — a key reason for its health benefits.

   “I would think either milk or white is healthiest,” said sophomore Sam Keehn.

   But actually, dark chocolate is the healthiest chocolate, according to Ask.com. It contains eight times more antioxidants, which help combat heart disease, than a strawberry. The darker treat also helps keep blood pressure and cholesterol low.

   The addicting sweet also contains serotonin, an antidepressant, and other stimulants. But some people experience negative side effects.

   “It gives me migraines,” said Keehn.

   Any fats in chocolate generally won’t affect cholesterol or weight because the fats are the same as those found in olive oil — they have neutral effects. There is only one main fat that has a negative effect, but it is found in small quantities.

Samantha Holifield

Writer Sam Holifield

   Chocolate has unfairly earned a negative reputation because of myths about acne breakout. But luckily for chocoholics everywhere, scientist have recently proved that chocolate and acne have no direct relationship.

   Scientists have also discovered that milk chocolate is one of the few snacks that is least likely to cause tooth decay.

   But eaters beware: Even though chocolate has health benefits, scientists have yet to find a way to make a chocolate bar low in calories.

   Still, “It makes me feel less guilty knowing these health benefits,” said Osborn.

   Chocolate experts agree that dark chocolate is the healthiest choice, but milk chocolate is a better choice than white chocolate.

   White chocolate contains no chocolate liquor and is composed mostly of sugar, vanilla and cocoa butter, bringing little to no health benefits.

WNLP IS PROUD to occasionally feature the work of LaPorte High School journalism teacher Angela Saoud’s students.