Bitter chocolate: benefit or harm to the body?

Bitter chocolate: benefit or harm to the body?
Bitter chocolate: benefit or harm to the body?
Anonim
bitter chocolate benefits
bitter chocolate benefits

Chocolate brings only pleasure or also benefits? Some consider it a harmful product that can lead to fullness and caries. Let's try to understand this issue.

In fact, it is impossible to say unequivocally that chocolate is good or bad. It all depends on the type of chocolate itself: dark (bitter), white or milk. Usually, when they talk about the beneficial properties of this sweet treat, they mean dark chocolate.

Bitter chocolate: he alth benefits

One of the benefits of dark chocolate is that it helps people suffering from hypertension (arterial hypertension). This is due to the fact that the flavonols contained in cocoa beans dilate blood vessels and thereby reduce high blood pressure in patients.

dark chocolate photo
dark chocolate photo

Bitter chocolate, the benefits of which are incredibly high, can also increase the level of good cholesterol in the body. Cocoa beans contain stearic acid, which prevents the increase in blood levels of bad cholesterol. The antioxidants found in dark chocolate help the body protect itself from the harmful effects of free radicals, moleculesdamaging the cells of our body and causing changes in DNA, lipids (fats) and proteins.

More and more evidence suggests that antioxidants can help slow or even prevent the development of some types of cancer. If you want to protect yourself from the "plague of the 21st century" - buy high-quality dark chocolate.

The benefit of dark chocolate also lies in its ability to make you happy. It contains phenethylamine, which releases endorphins. In addition, chocolate increases the level of serotonin in the body - the hormone of happiness.

Bitter chocolate calories

When you see dark chocolate, the photo of which hangs on a billboard, you should not run to the store for this delicacy only for those who follow their figure. It must be remembered that this product is fatty and high in calories. One hundred grams of chocolate contains more than 500 kcal. Although it contains a high content of cocoa beans and much less additives - sugar (0.2%), butter, compared to white or milk chocolate, which contain up to 65% sugar. But it is important to note that a small piece of a he althy treat will not harm the figure, but will make you happier.

dark chocolate composition
dark chocolate composition

Bitter chocolate ingredients

In accordance with GOST, only a confectionery product containing at least 55% cocoa beans and at least 33% cocoa butter can be called dark chocolate. The use of cocoa butter substitutes (vegetable solid oils) is allowed, but their amount should not exceed 5% of the total content of cocoa products in chocolate. Also in itcontains a small amount of sugar, lecithin and vanillin. Manufacturers should not add milk fats and milk to dark chocolate. After all, its benefits depend on the percentage of cocoa products in it: the higher it is, the better. If you buy, then only dark chocolate, the benefits of which have been proven by scientists. Just be sure to carefully study its composition before purchasing. Eat chocolate and be he althy and happy, but be careful.

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