Chocolate is the undisputed leader among sweet treats and there is hardly anyone who can resist this temptation. For several years now, the question has been whether chocolate is healthy or rather harmful. Of course, in order to answer this question, we need to know exactly which chocolate we are referring to and look at its content in detail.
Chocolate is a high-calorie food. It contains 61% carbohydrates, 30% fat and 5-8% protein. The fats in chocolate are composed of saturated fatty acids - stearic (34%) and palmitic (27%), monounsaturated - oleic (34%), and only 2% polyunsaturated represented by linoleic acid. Despite the significant amount of saturated fatty acids in chocolate, they have a neutral effect on serum cholesterol and do not lead to its increase.
Dark chocolate is dark because it contains much more cocoa powder (70%). Cocoa beans are rich in theobromine, which is a natural antispasmodic. Stressful situations in life are associated with the release of adrenaline and vasospasm. The antispasmodic effect of theobromine prevents spasm of the coronary arteries, which feed the heart and the blood vessels in the brain.
Harmful ingredients in chocolate should include tannin. It can cause headaches for people with already narrowed blood vessels and the consumption of chocolate before bedtime can lead to insomnia and untimely alertness.
Chocolate addiction is a common phenomenon that is twice as common in women. The mechanism of this involves bioactive substances such as caffeine, tyramine, phenylalanine. The latter have an amphetamine-like effect, although much weaker.
Milk is added to milk chocolate in different percentages.
Since white chocolate is produced mainly from cocoa butter and does not contain cocoa powder, we can say that it is not a real chocolate. It is deprived of the main useful ingredient (theobromine) and does not have the beneficial effect on the body, that is inherent in chocolate.
So, if we have to say that there is an unhealthy chocolate, it would be the white one. As for the black and dairy, it can be said with certainty that they are healthy products and consumed in moderation provide not only pleasure, but also have proven beneficial effects on the body.
If you are also a fan of chocolate, we can recommend you to make real homemade chocolate or why not chocolates, chocolate cake and fluffy chocolate muffins.
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