Which type of chocolate is best for your health?

Chocolate is not only delicious but also good for the mind and body. So what is the best chocolate?

Whitney English, nutritionist at Whitney E. RD (USA), said that the health benefits of chocolate products come from the cocoa bean inside, which is rich in phytonutrients with anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-hypertensive properties. The more pure nutritional density of chocolate, the more nutritious it is.

Accordingly, dark chocolate is healthier than milk or white chocolate. Dark chocolate also has a higher content of flavonoids (plant metabolites with many health benefits) than milk or white chocolate.

Dark Chocolate is Best for Health

Elisabetta Politi, a nutritionist at the Duke Center for Weight Management and Lifestyle (USA), told Today that flavonoids act as antioxidants to prevent the harmful effects of free radicals that are linked to an increased risk of heart disease and cancer.

Sharing with Today , these two experts both advise us to choose chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 70% because it contains less sugar and more phytonutrients.

Cocoa beans contain protein and are an excellent source of minerals such as iron, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc and phosphorus.

Besides, A study from the medical journal BMJ found that people who ate at least five 1-ounce servings (just over 31 grams) of dark chocolate per week had a significantly lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people who never or rarely ate dark chocolate. For people who ate milk chocolate, this effect was not present.

Eating 85% cocoa dark chocolate may also improve mood through the brain-gut connection, as dark chocolate works to ensure a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut and can improve negative emotions.

However, dark chocolate does contain caffeine, about 23 milligrams in a 1-ounce cube, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It also contains fat and sugar. Expert Elisabetta Politi recommends limiting chocolate to 1 ounce per day.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/loai-so-co-la-nao-tot-nhat-cho-suc-khoe-185250310210831338.htm