Chocolate is a little guilty pleasure of ours. But is it really that guilty?
We hear a lot of things about it: it makes you gain weight, you shouldn't overdo it, it contains caffeine, which can be bad, especially in the case of eye pressure.
But this antioxidant-rich food also has many benefits and can be good for your health.
So, good? Bad? What are its positive and negative compounds and how should you consume it? We explain.
Eye pressure, glaucoma, what is it?
Before you know whether you can devour that chocolate bar next to you, let's have a little class (a quick one, we promise) on how your eye works and on this famous eye pressure 🧑🏫.
It is a measure of the intraocular pressure in the eye. This pressure is exerted by a liquid, located between the cornea and the lens, in the front part of the eye, called the aqueous humor.
It plays an essential role in the proper functioning of your eyes since it helps maintain the shape of the eyeball.
This clear and colorless liquid also helps to provide essential nutrients to our eye and eliminate waste.
Intraocular pressure is therefore essential to ensure the stability and good health of the eyes.
It is considered normal when it is between 10 and 21 millimeters of mercury.
↗️ Ocular hypertension: when the pressure of the eye is too high (and can lead to glaucoma)
A pressure higher than normal (we then talk about ocular hypertension) can damage the optic nerve and lead to serious problems like glaucoma and other visual disorders.
It occurs when there is too much aqueous humor in the eye and the amount produced is greater than the amount evacuated.
Several causes can explain it :
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🧓 age (over 40 years)
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💉 diabetes
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🧐 myopia
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🧑🏾 dark skin
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👪 family history of glaucoma
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☕ consumption of coffee and tobacco
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💊 taking certain medications (side effect of steroids in particular)
↘️ Ocular hypotony: pressure too low
A pressure too low (also called ocular hypotony) can cause a drop in vision and pain.
It can be due to:
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😢 an eye injury
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😵 eye inflammation
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🧑⚕️ surgery
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👀 eye disease
High or too low eye pressure is most often asymptomatic. It is therefore important to have it measured regularly by an ophthalmologist using special devices or through a visual field exam and a fundus exam.
😟 When to worry?
Rest assured, ocular hypertension is not serious for most and only turns into glaucoma in 10% of cases.
As a reminder, glaucoma is a chronic eye disease that causes damage to the optic nerve due to too much pressure in the eyes.
However, people suffering from glaucoma or who are at higher risk of developing glaucoma should be particularly careful in the event of too high pressure. They should go see a doctor as soon as possible to get the appropriate treatment.
Because in the long term, glaucoma can lead to vision loss if not treated.
Chocolate: rich in vitamins, minerals and beneficial compounds
Did you know that chocolate is a food that has many benefits?
This is largely explained by the presence of flavonoids, which are compounds of plant origin.
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✨ a food rich in vitamins and minerals : thanks to its high cocoa content, chocolate is full of nutrients essential to the proper functioning of our body. It notably contains minerals like magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc.
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❤️ a food good for the heart and blood pressure : the flavonoids present in cocoa would help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks and strokes (CVA) by limiting the appearance of bad cholesterol (LDL). Flavonoids would also have an impact on the regulation of blood pressure, making chocolate a good ally against hypertension.
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😂 a natural antidepressant : thanks to its magnesium content, chocolate helps reduce stress, fatigue and anxiety. Tasting it brings comfort by promoting the secretion of endorphins, sometimes called the "happiness hormone".
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🍪 a food that allows you to control blood sugar levels : chocolate would be an excellent ally to prevent type 2 diabetes. The flavonoids it contains help fight insulin resistance.
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🧠 a food good for the brain : the flavonoids contained in chocolate help strengthen concentration and memory. Consuming it regularly can improve blood circulation, including that of the brain. Chocolate would therefore invigorate the mind, strengthen cognitive abilities and fight cognitive decline.
Negative compounds…
Have you ever noticed that little burst of energy right after eating chocolate? It comes, of course, from the sugar you just ingested, but not only that.
You may not have known it, but chocolate naturally contains caffeine, like many sweets.
When cocoa beans are processed into chocolate, two substances are formed: cocoa butter and cocoa solids. It is in the latter that we find caffeine, the amount of which varies depending on the type of chocolate.
Basically, the darker it is (high in cocoa), the more caffeine there is: dark chocolate therefore contains much more than milk and white chocolate (which contains none at all since it is composed only of cocoa butter)
So yes, caffeine is cool, because it is what allows you to get out of your morning coma like magic or be on top of your game all day by being more attentive.
But the flip side is that it can also cause less pleasant effects on your health if you consume too much of it.
Among the dangers caused by too much caffeine, we can mention:
- Sleep disorders (+ more details in our guide coffee and sleep)
- Increased risk of developing anxiety
- Increase in blood pressure
- Heart palpitations and gastric disorders
Once again, if you don't overdo it, there is no reason to fear this, but as they say: "better safe than sorry!"
🤔 So, what dose of caffeine can you consume daily without risk?
In general, it is recommended not to exceed 400 milligrams of caffeine per day for a healthy adult. For people with certain diseases, pregnant women, children and teens, the quantities decrease to 200 mg max per day.
… For poorly understood effects
Let's recap: chocolate contains compounds that are good for your health, but also caffeine, which can be potentially dangerous, especially in the case of eye pressure… So, what do we do?
Regarding your eye health, know that consuming chocolate is neither especially good nor bad for the eyes.
Like many things, it is a food to be consumed in moderation. This way you will enjoy its benefits without exposing yourself to the risks that too much caffeine can cause.
However, and we strongly emphasize this point, if you have high eye pressure, glaucoma or genetic history, then we strongly advise you to monitor your dark chocolate consumption to limit caffeine intake.
Chocolate: what daily consumption
To benefit from the antioxidant properties of chocolate, you should choose high-quality dark chocolate, rich in cocoa.
In fact, why is this chocolate the best for your health (for someone who does not have symptoms of eye pressure, obviously)? Simply because milk chocolate contains fewer flavonoids due to the milk.
Chocolate lovers will surely be disappointed, but it is still a food to be consumed in moderation, especially in the event of eye pressure.
It is recommended to eat two squares of dark chocolate a day (three squares maximum are allowed for the most indulgent).
The list of foods that are good for your eyes and those to avoid
✔️ Those to favor
In addition to chocolate, a healthy and balanced diet can help reduce eye pressure.
You just need to focus on the foods rich in vitamins (A, C, E and D), antioxidants, fatty acids (omega-3) and essential trace elements (zinc).
You will find all these nutrients notably in:
- 🥦 Fruits and vegetables : spinach, peppers, carrots, citrus fruits, oranges, blueberries, apples, kiwi, cabbage, broccoli
- 🐟 Oily fish such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, sardines,
- 🫗 Certain vegetable oils: rapeseed, flaxseed, walnut, soybean oils
- 🌰 Nuts: almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts
- 🥛 Dairy products and eggs
Herbal teas and green tea are also a good natural solution to maintain good eye health.
❌ Those to avoid
On the other hand, even though they are delicious, there are foods that are bad for the eyes that should be consumed in moderation.
Pay particular attention to foods rich in salt: excessive consumption can increase intraocular pressure.
We know, it's sad, so avoid industrial or processed products as much as possible (chips, cakes, sauces, ready meals, store-bought pizza and even soups), charcuterie, sugary drinks like soda and of course, alcohol!
In addition to adopting a balanced diet, other very simple tips can help your eyes stay in good shape for as long as possible: good hydration (at least 1.5 L of water a day), physical activity, regular breaks and eye exercises are all allies to maintain top-notch vision.
Don't hesitate either to protect your eyes from screens with our blue light glasses and try to reduce your screen time as soon as you can.
Final word: chocolate, to be avoided in case of glaucoma?
Should chocolate be banned to prevent glaucoma?
It all depends on whether you are at risk or not.
If you are a chocolate lover and your eye pressure is normal, you can rest assured: there is no reason to be wary of it for the health of your eyes. You can continue to eat it without worry, but in moderation, especially since it would still be a source of nutritional benefits.
Despite everything, it also contains caffeine, which can increase eye pressure. So be careful to limit its consumption to prevent the onset or progression of glaucoma if you are affected.
What foods should be favored to lower eye pressure?
There is no such thing as a food against glaucoma. However, to maintain good eye health, a balanced diet is fundamental. To give yourself every chance, choose foods rich in essential vitamins for vision, but also in omega-3 and antioxidants (against free radicals).
What foods are bad for the eyes?
Some foods are not great for your little eyes.
Be careful with sweets, processed foods, alcohol and overly salty products. To learn more, don't hesitate to check out our complete guide to foods that are good for your eyesight (and those to avoid)!
Comments
Bonjour, je suis atteint du glaucome
à angle ouvert !
depuis 9 mois je suis traité avec du Xalatan.. une goute dans chaque oeil le soir…. mais j’ai arrêté le traitement 10 jours !! pourriez vous m’expliquer pourquoi ma tension occulaire se maintient à 12 même après l’arrêt du traitement, examens fait le 13 iem jour sans le traitement !! Malgré cela, j’ai continué le traitement, et je continue jusqu’à une prochaine consultation, Avril 2026.! Ps: est-ce que le xalatan peut aussi perturbé mes voies respiratoires car je suis atteint d’un asthme allergique,, en dormant, ça siffle et ça ronronne!!!
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Bonjour, je suis atteint du glaucome
à angle ouvert !
depuis 9 mois je suis traité avec du Xalatan.. une goute dans chaque oeil le soir…. mais j’ai arrêté le traitement 10 jours !! 098
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