For years I demonised chocolate , assuming the sweet treat was inherently unhealthy. What I didn’t know at the time was that, if I consumed the right chocolate, it wouldn’t do me any harm at all – in fact, there are benefits. “About 380 known chemical substances have been described in cocoa, and among them are the phenolic phytochemicals, which have been intensively investigated for their antioxidant capabilities,” nutritionist Laura Parada tells Vogue .
“Moreover, in some studies it has been observed that pure cocoa contains much higher levels of total phenolics and has a higher antioxidant activity than black tea and green tea .” 5 key benefits of dark chocolate What is the best dark chocolate to choose? Parada suggests looking out for chocolate with a cocoa content equal to or greater than 75 per cent. Bearing in mind that most standard chocolate bars contain less than 40 per cent, it’s important to check the label.
“Certain chocolates, even if they contain a high percentage of cocoa, also include other types of ingredients that we do not want, such as sweeteners, flavourings or high levels of sugar .” How to introduce it in our diet (in a healthy way) Use dark chocolate in chunks in homemade pancakes, or eat with nuts as a healthy snack. Of course, it is important to consume it in moderation – no more than an ounce of dark chocolate (with more than 75% cocoa) per day.
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