Every year, between February and April, are supermarkets filled with chocolates? a real temptation for anyone. And for those on a diet, the hundreds of chocolate eggs hanging everywhere are torture. Resisting so much exposure to chocolate is not easy. And not necessary! As long as consumption is done in moderation.
The good news is that chocolate can bring many health benefits. Chocolate is made from plants, meaning it contains many of the benefits of dark-colored vegetables. These benefits derive from flavonoids, which regulate pressure through the production of nitric oxide, balance certain hormones in the body, and act as antioxidants, protecting the body from aging caused by free radicals, damage that can lead to heart disease. The dark chocolate, for example, contains eight times more antioxidants than strawberry ?, says nutritionist Licinia de Campos, Hospital and Maternity St. Christopher.
The secret is not to overdo it. Chocolate is still high in calories, high in fat. Most studies used no more than 100g of dark chocolate per day to gain the benefits. A dark chocolate bar is about 400 kcal ?, explains the nutritionist.
And she warns: "If you eat half a bar of chocolate a day, you should balance this 200kcal by consuming less of something else, cutting out other sweets and snacks."
Different types of chocolate
Here's how to choose the right chocolate for your need and consume the product with health and moderation:
- Diet: Sugar is replaced by sweetener. But that doesn't mean it's less caloric, because to compensate for consistency and palatability, fat is added to the formulation. The product is dietary, or indicated for those suffering from conditions such as diabetes, but without any advantage for those who want to lose weight.
- Light: It may offer a reduction in some ingredient relative to the original product, such as sugars, fats, sodium or another nutrient. Suitable for people who want to reduce their intake, but not always appropriate for weight loss.
- White: It is just a derivative of chocolate. It usually consists of cocoa butter, sugar, milk solids and salt, and its characteristic is pale yellow or ivory. The melting point of cocoa butter is high enough to keep solid white chocolate at room temperature. It is the most fattening.
- Bitter and half bitter: Darker chocolates optimize blood flow in the brain and heart, thereby optimizing cognitive function. Helps reduce the risk of stroke. And they contain several chemical components that have a positive effect on mood and cognitive health. The higher the amount of cocoa, the darker the product, and the more health benefits one achieves. Only 1/3 of the dark chocolate fats are harmful.
Which chocolate to choose?
Chocolate lovers should always look for bitter ones, which contain less milk derivatives (fats) and are less rich in sugar.
In addition, they help reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) by up to 10%; stimulate the production of endorphins giving sensation of pleasure; contains serotonin, which acts as an antidepressant, theobromine, caffeine and other stimulant substances, and phenylethylamine, the same chemistry that the brain creates when it is in love; It also encourages the brain to release endorphins. "Eating dark chocolate makes the person feel happier," concludes the nutritionist.
Health benefits of Chocolate (April 2024)
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