Chocolate research: benefits and harms, expert review

A participant in sacred rituals, a “sweet sin”, a remedy for depression and illness, a sweet drug – how much has been said about the chocolate we are used to over the entire history of its existence. Annual studies of chocolate are conducted, the harm or benefit of which is then questioned, then proven again. Chocolate diets are invented especially for those with a sweet tooth! Meanwhile, the healing properties that this dessert has belong to only two components, and all other additives add harm and cause problems with the figure. Let's take it in order...

Chocolate varieties

Everyone knows that there are many types of chocolate. But what distinguishes dark chocolate from white or milk chocolate? Few people asked themselves this question. But it’s all about the cultivation and variety of cocoa beans. The ripe fruit of the cocoa tree is orange in color. It is in this form that they are collected. There are several varieties: “criollo”, “national”, “forastero” and “trinitario”.

“Forastero” is considered the cheapest, since it is the most abundant, and the production of chocolate from this variety is more than 80%. Chocolate made from the criollo variety is called elite, and its production is less than five percent.

Is it possible to eat gray chocolate?

Have you bought a chocolate bar in a store that, when opened, turned out to be covered with a whitish coating? Of course, the first question that arises in your head will be: “Is it possible to eat such a dessert?” Experts say that there is nothing terrible in such a phenomenon. The presence of a “gray” coating on the surface of a chocolate bar indicates non-compliance with storage conditions. Most likely, it melted and then froze again. During this process, a light fraction of cocoa butter came to the surface and formed a white coating. Therefore, experts say that the presence of such a “gray” coating on chocolate generally indicates its high quality, and the dessert can be safely eaten without any harm to health.

When chocolate is frozen, a white coating may also form. But this is a different story. This coating consists of sugar crystals. It is better to refuse to purchase such a product. The tiles will taste bitter, and the sugar will grate on your teeth. It is unlikely that this will provide taste pleasure to the consumer.

The Differences of Dark Chocolate

Dark bitter chocolate is considered the healthiest, because it contains little or no sugar, much more cocoa powder than other varieties, and it has the lowest calorie content.

Dark varieties of chocolate with a deeper taste have a slight bitterness and can only please true gourmets. Dark chocolate differs from milk chocolate in that it does not contain milk powder, which changes color, taste, and aroma. Dairy products are more popular with children and those with a real sweet tooth.

White and dark chocolate are completely different products. The composition of the first completely excludes such an ingredient as cocoa powder, and it gets its chocolate taste thanks to cocoa butter.

Feedback from a nutritionist

Comment by Natalya Nefedova, a nutritionist with Canadian medical education and practice for more than 8 years:
«

I advise you not to get carried away with either dark or milk chocolate. Both are quite high-calorie products and in excess quantities can lead to weight gain.

2-3 squares a day and you’re good to go!

From a health point of view, dark chocolate is undoubtedly healthier, although it may cause heartburn more often due to its higher theobromine content. It relaxes the sphincter that separates the stomach and esophagus, allowing the hydrochloric acid of the stomach to burn the lining of the esophagus.

Dark chocolate can have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, for example, helping to reduce blood pressure. It can also improve cognitive abilities (cognitive: improved memory, intelligence, attentiveness - author's note), which is important.

But if dark chocolate is not your thing, then you shouldn’t give up milk chocolate. Of course, you won’t get all the health benefits that a more natural product gives us, but you won’t add in the number of calories - in terms of calorie content, they are almost identical. Plus, due to the milk content, the amount of calcium in milk chocolate is 3 times more than in dark chocolate! »

How do you feel about chocolate?

Composition of dark chocolate

There are many varieties of dark chocolate. The real thing is made from ingredients such as cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and powdered sugar. The higher the powder content, the darker and more bitter the product turns out.

For example, consider dark chocolate, which contains 70 to 80 percent cocoa liquor. Such a product in one hundred grams will contain 48% carbohydrates, 8% proteins and 44% fats. Also, this chocolate (real chocolate, without other additives in the form of vegetable and palm oils, milk) will contain many microelements, including: sodium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron. Vitamins here include E, PP, B1 and B2.

Real dark chocolate should not contain a large amount of sugar; powdered sugar is considered the sweet component. Also, such chocolate should not contain foreign fillers, and if you see a bar with nougat or jam in the store, then this product is not of high quality. The only exception is dark chocolate with nuts.

What are the benefits of chocolate? Positive properties, calorie content and composition, nutritionist recommendations

Many adherents of proper nutrition consider sweets to be a forbidden food, because they can harm the figure and condition of the body. Chocolate, which is considered to be the cause of excess weight, problem skin, diabetes and caries, is often included in the list of desserts. But, believe me, such judgments are erroneous if we are talking about the right product: natural, not containing flavor enhancers and chemical additives. Together with nutritionist and nutritionist Anna Berseneva

We tell you how to choose good chocolate and how it is good for your body.

Types of chocolate: dark, milk and white

There are three types of dessert: dark, or so-called bitter chocolate, as well as milk and white. In addition to color and taste, they differ in the ratio of crushed cocoa beans, cocoa butter and powdered sugar in the composition.

Cocoa predominates in dark chocolate; its amount is usually indicated on the packaging: from 50 to 99%. That is why the taste of the product acquires a slight bitterness, and the color becomes rich and dark. This chocolate contains a lot of antioxidants and the least amount of sugar - accordingly, it is the healthiest. Moreover, it is better to choose a bar that contains more than 70% cocoa. In this case, the dessert is prepared from good quality beans, otherwise the taste is slightly sour.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Milk chocolate contains less cocoa, but uses milk fat in the form of cream or powder. Thanks to it, the tiles acquire a soft, delicate taste and are especially liked by children, but do not have any beneficial properties.

Anna:

Milk chocolate often uses powdered milk, which has no obvious benefit even for children who calmly and easily digest dairy products. That is, powdered milk is the emptiest product from the dairy group. Therefore, I would not recommend milk chocolate using this ingredient for children. There is chocolate with oat milk, coconut milk, and carob - these are the options that have a milder taste. In fact, it is ideal to make chocolate, especially for children, at home, using the same coconut milk powder or oat milk if you want to make a more delicate creamy taste, as well as cocoa mass and cocoa butter.

White chocolate does not use ground cocoa beans at all, which is why it turns out so light. The dessert is based on powdered sugar, milk powder and cocoa butter, which has no taste, but has a pleasant smell.

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Which chocolate is better to choose?

Of all the listed types, dark chocolate brings the most benefits to the adult body. But you should also be careful about your choice: study the composition in detail and make sure that it actually contains crushed beans and cocoa butter. Instead, they can put powder, which makes the dessert cheaper and reduces its positive properties, and vegetable oils. For example, palm and coconut - a product containing them cannot be considered real chocolate.

Anna:

The most important thing in chocolate is cocoa mass and cocoa butter. These are the two ingredients that are of great value to our body: they prevent premature aging and rejuvenate the body at the cellular level. We need to be very careful with healthy or pseudo-healthy products, pseudo-healthy chocolate. Where it is written “cocoa butter substitute” or “cocoa substitute”, this does not suit us. It is better to choose dark chocolate with a percentage of cocoa mass of 80-85%.

Photo: istockphoto.com
In addition, it is important to ensure that chocolate does not contain flavorings, dyes, taste or smell enhancers. Only then can it be called quality. However, you shouldn’t get carried away with good desserts, because 100 grams of dark chocolate contains more than 500 kcal. Therefore, nutritionists recommend limiting yourself to 30-50 grams per day.

Plus, even good dark chocolate contains sugar. But, according to our expert, it does not harm the body. And if you are confident in excluding this product from your diet, then you should pay attention to alternatives to classic tiles.

Anna:

Even if there is regular sugar, then the percentage content per slice, per serving of chocolate is quite acceptable. And we will still benefit from the high percentage of cocoa mass and cocoa butter. Therefore, we either choose chocolate with healthy, high-quality alternatives to sugar: carob, coconut sugar, Jerusalem artichoke syrup, erythritol and stevia are all suitable. Or we choose high-quality classic chocolate, but where there is a high content of cocoa mass, due to which the percentage of sugar is so insignificant that the benefits of cocoa will cover it.

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The benefits of good chocolate for the body

If you managed to choose high-quality chocolate and you consume it in moderation, then here you can start talking about the benefits of the product for the whole body. The tiles really have a lot of positive properties!

Variety of nutrients

Chocolate contains the valuable substance flavanol, which is a natural antioxidant and promotes health. In addition, dark chocolate with 70-90% cocoa contains sufficient amounts of fiber, iron, magnesium, copper and manganese.

Lifts your mood and relieves stress

Of course, the taste and smell of chocolate alone can make you smile, but the tryptophan contained in the dessert does a much greater job. This is an essential amino acid that stimulates the production of serotonin - a natural antidepressant or, as it is otherwise called, the hormone of happiness. It turns out that we don’t just reach for chocolate in a stressful situation - this is a completely normal reaction of our body.

In addition, specialists from the Nestle research center in Lausanne found that dark chocolate removes cortisol and catecholamines from the body. These hormones are involved in stress reactions. Accordingly, a quality product drowns them out and makes you less susceptible to nervous situations.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Energizes

Dark chocolate also contains a small amount of caffeine, and its properties are probably known to everyone. A small piece of tile can replace a cup of coffee in the middle of the working day and awaken you to activity.

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Lowers blood pressure

Researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia have proven that chocolate reduces blood pressure in hypertensive patients by 5%. Probably, the reason for this is the flavonoids that we have already discussed. These substances stimulate the production of nitric oxide, which leads to dilation of blood vessels.

Balances cholesterol levels and prevents the formation of thrombosis

Cholesterol is usually divided into “harmful” and “good”. The first settles on the walls of blood vessels and arteries, making them narrow and less flexible. And the second removes the formed plaques from them, blocking the actions of the “bad” component. So, thanks to flavonoids, dark chocolate can reduce the level of “bad” cholesterol, increase the amount of “good” cholesterol and prevent the accumulation of platelets. This effect reduces the risk of blood clots.

Stimulates brain function

This happens, again, thanks to flavonol. According to research from the University of L'Aquila in Italy, dark chocolate improves brain activity, visual perception processes and helps cope with age-related memory impairment.

Also, cocoa, like green tea, contains the substance epicatechin. It may help protect the brain from the formation of sticky proteins or amyloid bodies. And they, in turn, develop in Alzheimer's disease.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease

Consuming cocoa in moderation has a positive effect on heart health. Studies from a number of US medical institutions have proven that including chocolate in the diet reduces the likelihood of developing coronary heart disease by 57%. To do this, it is enough to eat a small amount of dessert five times a week.

Soothes coughing attacks

Good tiles contain the antioxidant theobromine, a substance that suppresses coughing attacks by acting on the vagus nerve. It transmits messages from the central nervous system to the brain. Therefore, a couple of squares of dark chocolate may well calm down a night cough.

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Protects skin

Consuming flavonol-rich chocolate protects us from ultraviolet rays. In addition, this useful substance improves blood flow in the skin, moisturizes, makes it more elastic and prevents the appearance of wrinkles.

Improves the condition of gums and teeth

When they talk about harm to teeth, they mean white and milk chocolate, which contain large amounts of sugar. Dark tiles, on the contrary, relieve gum inflammation and protect teeth from caries. This is where theobromine comes into play: it protects the enamel and is involved in its remineralization.

Calories in dark chocolate

The calorie content of chocolate containing 70-80% cocoa powder will be approximately 550 Kcal per 100 grams. Many women who are losing weight firmly believe that dark chocolates do not harm their figure, but this is not true. Everything should be in moderation.

For example, to lose weight, you are allowed to eat no more than five grams of dark chocolate per day, but to maintain your figure, more than 25 grams of it per day is contraindicated.

The calorie content of chocolate, even the darkest, is very high, and it is advisable to exclude it completely during the diet in order to achieve the desired result.

When is the best time to eat chocolate?

If you are at the stage of losing weight:

The time for eating any product related to fast carbohydrates (high GI) should be limited to noon (12:00).

If you are maintaining weight:

Eat chocolate at any time, but not just before bed, because...
it may cause insomnia. In both cases, follow your daily calorie intake and overall nutritional balance, so that because of your love for chocolates, you don’t later cut back on your intake of other vitamin foods.

Variety of dark chocolate

Dark chocolate can be divided according to consistency:

• monolithic, prepared in the form of a single tile, without dividing into cubes;
• tiled, prepared in the form of several connected slices, and it is easy to break into even pieces;
• porous, prepared with many people’s favorite “bubbles”, its texture is more airy and soft.

By amount of cocoa powder:

• regular dark chocolate contains powder from 40 to 55%, sweeter and softer than bitter chocolate;
• bitter contains over 55% powder and has a bitter taste.

For additional ingredients:

• with nuts;
• pure chocolate without additives.

Cooking technology:

• dessert product;
• ordinary.

Everyone can find out the requirements and classification of goods according to GOST 31721-2012.

Which type of product is healthier?

To decide which type of treat is healthier, you should pay attention to the chemical composition of different types of chocolate.

Despite the fact that dark and bitter types of dessert contain the maximum amount of calories and fat , they are recognized as the most beneficial for human health.

The increased calorie content of these types of chocolate is explained by the fact that cocoa products have a higher energy value than sugar or milk powder. The high fat content of dark and bitter chocolate indicates a significant content of valuable cocoa butter.

Unlike other types of treats, dark and black types of chocolate contain a minimal amount of sugar and carbohydrates.

At the same time, high cocoa content bars are a valuable source of minerals, including:

• gland;
• magnesium;
• porcelain;
• copper;
• manganese

Chocolate production

Various factories have their own technological and recipe rules, which are not disclosed. The only thing we can write about is the main process - preparing the main ingredients, and then we will share a recipe for making real chocolate at home. So where do cocoa powder and butter come from?

Ripe fruits of the chocolate tree are cut into halves. Ideally, lay these halves on banana leaves to dry. This process takes about two weeks and is necessary to ferment the natural sugar contained. This gives the beans the same aroma and taste that everyone knows from childhood.

Subsequently, the fruits are thoroughly dried and, already dry, sent to factories for roasting. At factories, raw materials are cleaned of foreign impurities and debris, fried, and they begin to prepare a paste from the resulting product by grinding. The cocoa butter content in this paste is not enough to produce chocolate, so it is put under a press to separate the cake from the butter. The cake is ground into powder and the required amount of oil is added to it.

How to make dark chocolate at home

To be sure of the quality of the product, you can try to make it yourself. The main thing is to purchase cocoa butter, which is rarely found on sale.

Ingredients:

• grated cocoa – 155 g;
• cocoa butter – 100 g;
• powdered sugar – 100 g.

The amount of sweetener can be adjusted according to personal discretion. To enrich the taste of the product, whole or chopped nuts are added to it.

Making chocolates at home

Making chocolate at home is quite possible. If you don’t trust store-bought products or real chocolate is too expensive, then use our recipe. The ingredients needed for cooking are now easy to find in specialized stores.

You will need:

1. Cocoa butter (75 grams).
2. Cocoa powder (125 grams).
3. Powdered sugar (about three tablespoons, more or less depending on taste preferences).
4. Nuts if desired.

Organize a water bath and melt the cocoa butter in it. Add the powder to the completely melted ingredient, stirring constantly with a whisk. When the mass becomes homogeneous, slowly add powder and completely dissolve it in the total mass. Add the nuts last. When everything is mixed and dissolved, remove the product from the bath and pour into molds. The chocolates should cool at room temperature, and after that they should be placed in the refrigerator until completely hardened.

Homemade chocolate production is complete!

Benefit for health

Dark chocolate is a product that has amazing properties. And if you use it in moderation, it can benefit the body.

1. This dessert promotes the production of serotonin, the hormone of joy. This substance is responsible for our mood and strengthens the nervous system. By including this delicacy in your diet, you can get rid of sleep problems and reduce the risk of developing depressive conditions.
2. Real dark chocolate contains flavonoids that act as antioxidants. They improve both general well-being and skin condition. With their help, blood flow is normalized, blood vessels are cleaned, and oxidative processes are reduced, thereby preventing diseases of the vascular system. At the same time, premature aging of the skin is prevented and its elasticity increases.
3. Dark chocolate (when compared with its “brothers”) contains a small amount of sugar, and therefore is considered relatively safe for people with high blood glucose levels - no critical jumps are observed when consuming it. In this case, we are not talking about people with diabetes! With this disease, the consumption of sweets should be agreed with the attending physician!
4. For regular mental stress, experts recommend consuming dark chocolate. It will become “food” for the brain, strengthen memory, promote concentration, which, in turn, will increase performance. The brain cells will receive a sufficient amount of oxygen, thanks to which the person will be able to quickly restore strength and overcome irritability.
5. With a small amount of sugar in the composition and the presence of phosphorus, dark chocolate has a positive effect on the condition of teeth. If you regularly maintain oral hygiene, this product will help reduce the risk of developing caries, and the theobromine included in the composition will take care of the integrity of tooth enamel. Tannins will destroy bacteria, eliminating bad breath.
6. Another useful property of theobromine is to improve the basic functions of the heart muscle and generally have a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular and circulatory systems. Atherosclerosis and thrombosis are prevented and blood pressure is normalized. Studies have shown that this substance takes an active part in regulating cholesterol in the blood: the amount of “bad” cholesterol decreases and the amount of “good” cholesterol increases.
7. Due to the low sugar content, this dessert does not overload the pancreas and normalizes liver function. In addition, it is called an excellent prebiotic.
8. Dark chocolate has anti-inflammatory properties. When consumed, the level of reactive protein decreases, thereby stopping inflammatory processes. Thus, the delicacy will be especially useful during the cold season, as a preventative against viral diseases.

Eating 40 g of dark chocolate per day can improve the metabolism of intestinal microflora.

Benefits for men

It has been proven that dark chocolate can reduce the risk of heart attacks in representatives of the stronger half of humanity by approximately 17%. In this case, its benefits for men will be manifested with a daily consumption rate, which is a quarter of a 100-gram bar.

In addition, dark chocolate has aphrodisiac properties. Improving mood, maintaining vigor, strengthening self-confidence, this dessert has a positive effect on potency. However, you should not forget about the calorie content of the sweet product: if you abuse it, you can gain weight in a short time.

Benefits for women

A dessert with a high content of grated cocoa beans and a small amount of sugar will also benefit women.

• For the fair sex, dark chocolate will be a salvation during the menstrual cycle. It will eliminate pain, heaviness in the lower abdomen and at the same time normalize hormonal levels: improve mood and relieve irritability.
• Nutritionists advise including this product in the menu for women who want to lose weight. With moderate consumption, dark chocolate will exhibit beneficial properties: it will speed up metabolism, give a boost of energy and curb appetite.
• If there are no contraindications, dessert can be consumed during pregnancy. At this time, a woman’s body needs biologically active substances, and a few cubes of sweets can provide a certain amount of them. As a result, balance, vigor and mental clarity will return. But it is important to consider that chocolate is a highly allergenic product, and therefore if you are prone to allergic reactions during pregnancy, you should avoid consuming it.
• By caring for the skin, dark chocolate will help the fair sex preserve youth and beauty for a long time. It will prevent the appearance of wrinkles, even out the complexion and visibly refresh it.

Benefits of dark chocolate

Dark chocolate, the benefits and harms of which are little known to many people, still brings more benefits. But this only applies to using it in small quantities. So, what are the benefits of dark chocolate?

1. Due to their high cocoa content, dark chocolates are excellent antioxidants. This property has a beneficial effect on health, cleanses the body of toxins and waste, and prolongs youth.
2. Improves insulin sensitivity, which reduces the risk of diabetes.
3. Normalizes blood circulation in the brain. This is precisely the reason for the strong memory of those with a sweet tooth and a good mood after eating a piece.
4. Prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases, helps maintain the health of people with weak hearts.
5. Helps normalize blood pressure in obese people.
6. Helps the body absorb sugar due to the large amount of flavonoids.
7. Fights inflammation due to its ability to reduce the development and levels of C-reactive protein.
8. Dark chocolate is an excellent antidepressant. Surely many have noticed that in case of nervous shock and bad mood, a piece of chocolate can calm you down.

If you do not overeat chocolate, then thanks to its properties you can significantly improve your health and even increase your libido. These are the beneficial qualities that dark chocolate is endowed with!

Harm and contraindications

No one is immune from causing damage to health, even with high-quality products. Dark chocolate is no exception.

1. If you consume this low quality product, you can definitely put your health at risk. If you use it often, it will lead to such an unpleasant disease as gastritis. Insomnia or digestive disorders may also occur.
2. Whatever the benefits of dark chocolate, the calorie content of this product is very high. If you abuse this delicacy, obesity can become one of the unpleasant consequences. The average daily value is no more than 45 g.
3. This product is not recommended for children under three years of age, people with diabetes and those who suffer from migraine attacks.

Harm of dark chocolate

Even dark chocolate can be harmful to your health. This mainly concerns low-quality products that can be distinguished by taste. High-quality chocolate (dark) will have a bitter taste, while low-quality chocolate will become sour. Eating such chocolate can have a detrimental effect on the gastrointestinal tract, increasing acidity and thereby causing gastritis.

Chocolate is a high-calorie product, and its amount per day should not exceed the recommended dose (no more than 45 grams!). It can cause obesity, or simply be deposited as excess on the waist.

Even dark chocolate is not recommended for diabetics. Under no circumstances should it be given to children under three years of age.

If you are allergic to chocolate products, you should never eat dark chocolate, because it contains a large amount of cocoa powder and butter.

What brands should you pay attention to?

The most beloved producers of high-quality dark chocolate by customers all over the world:

Alter Eco

The Alter Eco chocolate line is rich in various tastes and is ready to please the most demanding customers. The most popular options are Dark Chocolate with Quinoa, Salted Caramel, Coconut Flavored Toffee.

Chocolate called Dark Blackout has the richest taste and contains the most cocoa - 85%. This option also has the shortest list of ingredients - cocoa mass, cocoa butter, raw cane sugar and vanilla.

Equal Exchange

Like the previous manufacturer, Equal Exchange guarantees the quality and naturalness of its products. In addition to chocolate bars, powder for making hot chocolate is popular. This is especially true in latitudes with pronounced winters. When you mention hot chocolate, an association immediately arises with Christmas, an elegant tree, gifts, warm woolen clothes and a large mug of divine hot drink.

Chocolove

Chocolove has been the best-selling chocolate on Iherb for several years now. And this is not surprising if you take into account the weight of the tile, its cost, composition and wide range of tastes. Among the unusual options, dark chocolate with ginger and orange zest should be noted.

Other manufacturers

Keep in mind that the article provides examples of manufacturers that the author, as well as his friends, liked.

Quality criteria

Interesting criteria for chocolate quality were proposed by the British institution of the Academy of Chocolate. A good quality product contains only cocoa fat. Does not contain other vegetable fats. The second criterion is the percentage of cocoa. Dark chocolate must contain at least 70% cocoa mass and at least 25% milk. A high-quality product does not contain preservatives, flavors, dyes or other artificial additives. The origin, processing and quality of cocoa beans must be taken into account during production. It is worth choosing sweets that contain small amounts of trans fats, because they cause an increase in cholesterol levels and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and diabetes. The highest amounts of trans fat are found in filled chocolate, chocolate products (e.g. praline bars) and white chocolate.

Benefits and harms of the product

No matter what odes are sung to a chocolate bar about how this product lifts your spirits and saves you from depression, you need to remember about rationality. The benefits are undeniable, but only when consumed in small quantities and, to be completely truthful, they are significantly less than those of bitter varieties.

Why is it useful?

Here are the valuable properties of the product:

• improves mood, helps to cope with stressful situations;
• is a source of calcium and phosphorus, which is beneficial for bone tissue;
• thanks to a large amount of vitamin B2, it increases skin elasticity, supports hematopoietic function and the functioning of the reproductive organs and endocrine glands;
• relieves PMS in women;
• increases libido in both sexes;
• invigorates and tones due to the presence of theobromine;
• strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

Since the product contains cocoa and sugar, it helps to increase brain activity, and as a result, better performance.

Harm and contraindications

Chocolate should not be consumed under the following conditions:

• diabetes;
• severe diseases of the liver and pancreas;
• gastritis, stomach ulcers, other gastrointestinal problems;
• increased acidity;
• nervous excitability;
• diseases of the central nervous system;
• elevated cholesterol levels, the presence of atherosclerotic plaques;
• overweight, obesity;
• hypertension;
• allergy to the product;
• gout;
• children under 3 years of age;
• the presence of stones in the kidneys, bladder, ureters or bile ducts.

Reference

The daily intake of the product is no more than 30 g, but it is important to control the consumption of other types of chocolate and sweets. Children over 3 years old should not be given more than 20 g of product per day and no more than 2-3 times a week.

The potential harm lies in the exacerbation of these contraindications. Also, with excessive consumption, there is a high risk of developing diabetes and weight gain. You should eat chocolate with caution during pregnancy. During breastfeeding, the product is introduced into a woman’s diet when the child is 4 months old.

Which chocolate is healthier - dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

The answer to this question is clear – black (bitter) is healthier. This is due to the fact that it contains much more cocoa and less sugar, and there are no milk fats. Therefore, all the properties that cocoa has are most pronounced in bitter varieties.

Reference

Dark chocolate is not so dangerous for your figure. And compared to dairy, it has a low glycemic index (25 versus 70), so it does not lead to a sharp jump in glucose levels after consumption.

Poll: Which chocolate do you like best?

GorkyMilk

Daily consumption rate

Healthy people who do not suffer from excess weight and diabetes can eat 2-3 slices of high-quality dark chocolate daily. During the period of weight loss, you can also eat this dessert, but you should give preference to a delicacy with a sweetener instead of sugar. Those losing weight can eat 1-2 slices no more than 2 times a week.

Children from 3 years of age can also be given dark chocolate - it contains fewer additives than milk or white. Children can eat 1 cube per day no more than 3-4 times a week.

Dark chocolate is one of the healthiest desserts for humans. The product contains a relatively low amount of sugar and, when consumed in moderation, does not pose a threat to the health of adults and children. It should be remembered that only high-quality dark chocolate made in accordance with GOST brings benefits.