If you have diabetes and still love chocolate, don’t worry about your blood sugar levels.
Introductions are not necessary for this immensely valuable food, which dates back to 2000 BC. In contrast to the milk or butter in milk chocolate, dark chocolate only contains cocoa solids and cocoa butter.
“Bitter chocolate,” or unsweetened chocolate, is the term for dark chocolate without artificial flavouring. Milk chocolate contains 10-50 per cent cocoa solids, cocoa butter, milk in some form, and sugar, whereas dark chocolate contains 50-90 per cent cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar.
Lower-quality chocolates may also include butter fat, vegetable oils, or artificial colours or flavours. White chocolate has no cocoa solids and is produced entirely from cocoa butter, sugar, and milk.
Nutritional value
A 100-gram (g) bar of dark chocolate with 70-85 per cent cocoa solids has
Energy: 604 kcal.
Protein: 7.87 g
Fat: 43.06
Carbs: 46.36 g
Dietary fibre: 11.00 g
Sugar: 24.23 g
Iron: 12.02 mg
Magnesium: 230.00 mg
Zinc: 3.34 mg
Sodium: 20 mg
Caffeine: 80 mg
Vitamin A: (39 IU)
Dark chocolate’s health advantages
The proportion of cocoa specified on the chocolate refers to the percentage of all components that are derived from the cacao plant. That implies a dark chocolate product with a greater cocoa % may have a higher concentration of the nutrients that provide the perks.
These beneficial components may include:
Flavanols
Spolyphenols
Theobromine
It is vital to remember that cocoa loses part of its polyphenol components throughout the production process of cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and chocolate. Cocoa processing not only removes some of its most beneficial components, but may also include sugar, milk, and cocoa butter, a refined version of the cocoa bean.
An important mineral source
Dark chocolate is high in minerals such as iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, and phosphorus. These minerals are used in your body to support factors such as immunity (zinc), bone and tooth health (phosphorus), and contribute to better sleep quality (magnesium).
High fibre content
Dark chocolate has high fibre content when compared to other sweet treats. “A small amount of dark chocolate (about an ounce) contains about four grams of fibre.
Non-dairy
Milk chocolate, as the name suggests, contains milk or milk solids. However, dark chocolate is generally considered dairy-free. That means it’s a good choice if you’re lactose intolerant (allergic to milk) or follow a dairy-free diet.
If you’ve ever wanted to eat chocolate every day, you now have an excuse — or eight
- Dark chocolate may aid in the prevention of heart disease and lower the risk of stroke.
- The treatment may boost your mood, improve your intelligence, and prevent memory loss.
- Dark chocolate may help to lower blood sugar levels and lower the risk of developing diabetes.
- Chocolate is beneficial to the digestive system and may aid in weight loss.
- It combats free radicals and may help prevent cancer.
- It’s Beneficial for Your Skin (in More Ways Than One).
- Dark chocolate may raise good cholesterol while decreasing bad cholesterol.
- Dark chocolate is healthy and delicious!