Dr Zahid Chauhan - Ignore egg-traordinary chocolate claims

Brits will consume 80 million Easter eggs this year, with the average child doubling their recommended weekly calorie intake by eating on average, five chocolates eggs.

As a nation we are the fourth biggest consumers of chocolate in the world, but then with regular studies claiming chocolate can cure everything from high blood pressure to depression, surely it is okay to munch away?

Not so. 

Such research is at best spurious, based on short-term effects, examining cocoa extracts rather than chocolate and sometimes being imaginatively interpreted.

An example of this would be the myth propagated in some sections of the media, that dark chocolate contains properties that can cure the blues.

Drill down to the detail of the report and you will find that such was the small size of the sample tested, the researchers were unable to decipher whether depression was lifted by chocolate or caused by eating too much of it. Aptly, they concluded this was a “chicken and egg” situation.

Many of us love the taste of chocolate, and as part of a balanced diet, it is possible to enjoy it.

I believe, as many dieticians do, that it is important not to wholly demonise it as bad food, either, but moderation is a must. 

The bottom line is that most chocolate is soaked with sugar and filled with fat, which counteracts any benefits enjoyed from cocoa extracts which do indeed provide a good source of iron, magnesium and zinc.

As eminent dietician Alison Hornby noted: “Chocolate is an energy-dense food that could contribute to weight gain and a higher risk of disease.”

Obesity makes you more susceptible to type 2 diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.

The effect on dental health is not too pleasant, either. Sugar is the main cause of tooth decay and as a GP regularly working within hospitals, I can confirm that tooth ache and mouth infections are the biggest problem we treat in children.

Of course I am sympathetic towards those people who have a difficult relationship with food; which leads to comfort eating and disorders such as anorexia. I want those people to seek NHS help and tackle these tragic problems through the counselling and nutritional sessions we run.

For the rest of society, it is a question of being firm and exploring alternatives to sugar-laden food. The recent Change4Life '100 Calorie Snacks' is an excellent place to start for advice:

https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/food-facts/healthier-snacks-for-kids/100-calorie-snacks#UTSjoElbem5AFXDR.97

I began by busting some of the myths around chocolate. It may also interest you to know that some high-level research has been done into the addictive qualities of sugar. It suggests we can become hooked – hence the term chocoholic.

I am all in favour of 'a little bit of what you fancy does you good', but we must be mindful that over-consumption of chocolate can have a really negative impact on our health.

Happy Easter to all of you - but go easy over the chocolate eggs.