The best chocolate for health is half bitter chocolate because this type of chocolate has the best ratio between the percentage of cocoa and the amount of other nutrients. Therefore, it is richer in important antioxidants that protect cells and prevent premature aging.
However, bitter chocolate when consumed in excess also becomes fattening and can damage health due to the accumulation of fat.
Cocoa in bitter or bitter chocolate also has important benefits for fighting cholesterol, improving heart health, preventing thrombosis, and even improving mood. However to achieve these benefits one can not overeat.
Key Benefits of Half Bitter Chocolate for Health
The main benefits of half bitter chocolate can be:
- Give a sense of well being - as it helps in releasing the hormone serotonin;
- Stimulate the central nervous system - due to the presence of theobromine, a substance similar to caffeine;
- Prevent the onset of cancer - because it has antioxidants, called flavonoids, that protect cells in the body.
Meet all the incredible benefits of chocolate explained by our nutritionist.
How to choose the best chocolate
The best chocolate for health is one that has:
- Over 70% cocoa;
- Cocoa should be the first ingredient in the ingredients list;
- It should have a low amount of sugar, preferably less than 10 g. If it is sweetened with Stevia, it is better for health, because this is a natural ingredient.
Preference should also be given to chocolates made with organic ingredients, because in this case cocoa has no toxins or pesticides that can reduce its nutritional quality and consequently decrease the amount of benefits.
Nutritional Information of Chocolate
The nutritional information in this table refers to approximately 5 squares:
| Nutritional value per 25g of chocolate | White chocolate | Milk chocolate | Semisweet chocolate | Bitter chocolate |
| Energy | 140 calories | 134 calories | 127 calories | 136 calories |
| Proteins | 1.8 g | 1.2 g | 1.4 g | 2.6 g |
| Fats | 8.6 g | 7.7 g | 7.1 g | 9.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 4.9 g | 4.4 g | 3.9 g | 5.4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 14 g | 15 g | 14 g | 9.4 g |
| Cocoa | 0% | 10% | 35-84% | 85 to 99% |
In addition to being rich in antioxidants, bitter chocolate also has calories and fats, so in order to have the health benefits of chocolate chocolate should preferably be consumed after a meal such as breakfast or lunch, consumption at other times of the day.
Effects of chocolate on the liver
The consumption of small doses of bittersweet chocolate or dark chocolate is beneficial to the liver. The consumption of other types of chocolate, such as milk chocolate or white chocolate, does not have the same effect.
Excessive consumption of bitter or bitter chocolate may lead to symptoms of liver problems, even of healthy individuals, such as dizziness, lack of appetite, headache, bitter taste in the mouth or even feeling sick and vomiting.
The antioxidant substances in chocolate help in the blood flow of the veins that irrigate the liver favoring its performance, including in cases of liver problems, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension, for example.
But in case of exaggerated consumption, what can be done to treat the liver is to stop the consumption of chocolate, any other source of fat and alcoholic beverages by investing in the taking of detoxifying and bitter-tasting teas, such as carqueja or boldo, for 1 or 2 days, or until symptoms subside.
Benefits of bittersweet chocolate to the heart
Half bitter chocolate does well to the heart because it contains many antioxidants, which facilitate blood circulation, promoting an adequate flow of blood in the body, and thus decreasing the risk of heart disease.
However, just 1 square, about 5 g per day, after breakfast or lunch to have all the benefits of bittersweet chocolate.
In addition, the bitter chocolate has theobromine, a substance that stimulates the muscles of the heart making it stronger.
Check out these tips and many more in the following video:
