Is Dark Chocolate Useful?

Author: Maryam Ayres Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

In this article, learn more about Is Dark Chocolate Useful?. Dark chocolate contains cocoa beans rich in compounds known as flavanols.

Yes, dark chocolate has ingredients that are good for health and this allows its consumption even on a daily basis. However, the measure is very important, because too much can contribute to the intake of extra fat, sugar and calories and the accumulation of excess reserves in the body.

Dark chocolate contains cocoa bean powder, rich in compounds known as flavanols. At high levels, cocoa flavanols have been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and possibly reduce the risk of diabetes . And it contains the largest amount of these cocoa flavanols. There is less milk chocolate and no white chocolate at all.

But while these nutrients make dark chocolate healthy, they also give it a bitter taste. Manufacturers can process chocolate to make it more palatable, but this can eliminate some of the beneficial compounds in cocoa. Experts explain that factors in processing, such as fermentation and baking, which improve the taste and give the chocolate a different flavor, can affect the flavanol content.

Although the number of flavanols may vary among brands of dark chocolate, it is still a healthier choice than milk, which contains more sugar. One-third of the fats in cocoa butter include stearic acid - a saturated fat that, unlike other saturated fats, does not affect blood cholesterol as much. In addition, cocoa powder is a source of minerals such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

So we can afford to enjoy a piece of dark chocolate after a meal! But it is good to keep in mind a few more facts:

Chocolate must contain at least 60% cocoa. The higher the percentage of cocoa, the more flavanols it contains.
If possible, choose chocolate with a higher content of natural cocoa, rather than Dutch-processed cocoa, which is treated with an alkaline substance that neutralizes the acid.
To keep weight under control, we need to limit the amount to no more than 150 calories at a time.

Is Dark Chocolate Useful?

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