Author: Victoria Aly
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Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
Dark chocolate and cocoa have greater antioxidant activity and contain more flavonols than fruits ...
Chocolate contains more healthy plant compounds than some fruit juices, a new study has found. The analysis suggests that the product be taken as a "super food".
Scientists have found that dark chocolate powder is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, which are thought to protect the body from a number of diseases, including cancer and heart disease.
"Super foods" are usually classified as those with a high content of antioxidants - substances that neutralize free radicals in the body and protect healthy cells from damage.
Researchers compare different chocolate products such as dark chocolate, cocoa, hot chocolate and fruit juices from berries, pomegranate and others.
The test results show that dark chocolate and natural cocoa have higher antioxidant activity and contain more flavonols than fruits. Flavonols belong to the group of flavonoids that function in the human body as antioxidants.
The health effect is lost in hot chocolate because it has undergone processing, said Dr. Debra Miller, head of the study.
The study was published in the journal Chemistry Central Journal .