addicted to chocolate

Addicted to Chocolate How often do you eat chocolate? If you answered ‘every day’, you may become addicted to chocolate; but is this addiction damaging your health? Eating too much chocolate is often thought to be the cause of tooth decay, weight gain, headaches, and skin problems such as acne. On the other hand, chocolate is known to make people feel happier. Eating chocolate releases a distinctive flavor that gives us a pleasant, positive feeling. What is it the causes of this feeling? Chocolate contains over three hundred known chemicals. Like a drug, these chemicals stimulate areas of the brain that enable us to feel pleasure. The most well known chemical is caffeine, which is also found in coffee, tea, and some types of soda. Theobromine, a weak stimulant, is present in higher amounts than caffeine. It is believed that the combination of these two chemicals causes the temporary ‘lift’ we experience after eating chocolate. However, does eating too much chocolate cause any real health risks? The popular opinion of chocolate is that it is a fattening food that gives you spots, and contains no nutritional qualities. The fact is, chocolate does contain saturated fat. This type of fat can contribute to heart disease by increasing levels of bad cholesterol in the blood. On the other hand, scientists at the University of California have discovered that chocolate also contains high levels of chemicals called phenolics, also found in red wine, coffee, and tea. Some phenolics, if consumed in small amounts, are believed to lower the risk of heart disease. Evidence that eating chocolate does not cause acne comes from two studies: one at the Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the other by the U.S. Naval Academy. Their research showed some interesting results. They found that there was no difference in the skin condition between the study participants who did, or did not, eat chocolate. There is also no proof that chocolate is the cause of tooth decay. In face, it is believed that the cocoa butter in chocolate forms a coating over teeth that may help to protect them. The sugar in chocolate can cause cavities, but no more than sugar in any other food or drink. Consumption of chocolate around the world now amounts to about 6,000,000 tons a year. That’s equivalent to around 6,000,000,000 kilograms! No one has ever died of eating too much chocolate, so this is one addiction that might be okay to have. See how much do you remember. Try not to look back at the reading for the answers (True/False) According to the reading… 1.Eating chocolate usually makes people feel unhappy and angry. 2.Chocolate contains chemicals that slow the brain. 3.There is real evidence that eating chocolate causes health risks. 4.It is popular opinion that chocolate contains saturated fat. 5.Eating chocolate causes tooth decay and cavities, so you shouldn’t eat it. Match the word or phrase with a definition on the right. 1.addiction___ a. facts or information that show something is true or untrue 2.stimulate____ b. a habit, usually harmful, that someone cannot stop doing 3.risk___ c. involves danger, or the possibility of something bad happening 4.evidence___ d. to make something become more active or energized 5.contribute (to)___ e. the other side of the argument 6.on the other hand f. to help make something happen 1.Smoking is an ___ that millions of people die from each year. 2.Do you have any ___ that Mark took the money? 3.Quitting my job was a ___, but now I’m happy I did it. 4.One way to ___ a conversation is by asking people about themselves. 5.We could go on vacation to Hawaii. ____, it might be nice to visit Europe. 6.Living in the countryside with her family will ___ Elaine’s recovery from surgery.