Eating a lot of chocolate sounds like fun, but it can cause you or your children health problems. While chocolate does have some health benefits, it is only healthy in small amounts. Eat too much, and you could suffer some serious side effects. Here is more information about eating too much chocolate, the health benefits chocolate, and the type of chocolates with the most benefits.

How Much Chocolate is Too Much?

The commonly recommended chocolate limit for an adult is no more than one or two ounces per day. This is usually the size of most regular-sized candy bars. Children should eat even less. However, depending on your sensitivities and health, you won't necessarily harm yourself if you eat more than that occasionally,

What Are the Negative Health Effects of Too Much Chocolate?

Most chocolate has added sugar, fat, and eating chocolate candy can lead to obesity and other health problems like diabetes. Also, chocolate has caffeine that could cause anxiety, heart palpitations, and insomnia. If you can't metabolize theobromine, a major component of chocolate, then you could suffer from a major allergic reaction.

Even if you don't have a theobromine intolerance or allergy, if you eat a massive amount of chocolate, such as several pounds at once, then you may suffer from theobromine poisoning. However, you'd likely feel pretty sick and stop eating long before you got to that point.

Does Chocolate Have Health Benefits, Too?

The actual chocolate itself has several health benefits. Theobromine is a vasodilator that opens up blood vessels and helps lower blood pressure. Chocolate also has flavonoids which have an anti-inflammatory effect and can help lower cholesterol and even regulate your mood. However, not all chocolates have this benefit.

What Kinds of Chocolate Have Positive Benefits?

If you must eat chocolate, then make sure you eat chocolate that is as dark as you can tolerate. Dark chocolate tends to have much more of the actual chocolate and lot less sugar and fat, making it a better health choice. However, dark chocolate can taste a bit bitter than other types of chocolate, so your tolerance may be limited to lighter chocolate types.

While chocolate, in general, is a yummy treat for the entire family, you should be careful not to overindulge or let your kids indulge in too much all at once or too often. However, if you are otherwise healthy, then a little bit of chocolate now and then won't hurt you. If you or your child overindulged in chocolate and feel sick, or have allergic symptoms, then contact a family medical practice to pinpoint and remedy the problem.