Is chocolate good for your health?

If you like chocolate a lot, you will surely be happy to hear that there are a few studies which have come to the conclusion that it brings a number of health benefits.

However, over time, studies have been shown to have contradictory results, so for the question, “Is chocolate beneficial for health?”, the answer still remains “Maybe.”

Chocolate can have a positive effect on health, as demonstrated by the results of numerous studies. Research has focused on analyzing the action of chemical compounds called flavonoids on processes taking place in the human body.

Flavonoids are typically found in the composition of many sorts of herbs and herbal based foods (such as wine and tea) that many of us consume daily and are already known for their antioxidant properties.

Cocoa contains many flavonoids, but the most important are catechins, epicatechins and flavonols. These chemicals have the role of reducing the risk of developing diseases such as diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, stroke, and cancer. In addition, it helps improve brain function and slows the effects of aging.

If you prefer milk chocolate or chocolate filled with different flavors, you might be slightly disappointed to hear that the healthiest is dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate

The highest concentrations of flavonoids are found in chocolate that has a high content of cocoa (dark chocolate or unsweetened chocolate). The cocoa content of the dark chocolate composition is listed on the packaging as a percentage typically ranging between 35-100%.

A dark chocolate with a 100% cocoa percentage means that it is composed of processed cocoa beans, no fat or sugar.

White chocolate, filled milk or chocolate do not have enough flavonoids and do not offer the same health benefits as black chocolate. White chocolate does not actually contain cocoa but mainly milk, sugar and many calories (43 grams of white chocolate can have 230 calories and 25 grams of sugar compared to black chocolate containing 180 calories and 15 grams of sugar).

However, due to the high calorie count, it is not recommended to consume large quantities of dark chocolate. Another important aspect is that some studies have shown that dairy products slow the absorption of flavonols.

If you want to benefit from the positive effects of cocoa, it is not enough just to eat dark chocolate. The amount of flavonols can vary greatly depending on the type of cocoa beans, but also on the high temperatures that some chocolate producers use during processing, temperatures that can eliminate some or even all flavonols.

Usually, the amount of flavonols is not specified on the chocolate wrapper, but chocolate companies process cocoa differently. That’s why it would be preferable to buy good quality dark chocolate.




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