Bitter chocolate: benefit or harm to the body?

Chocolate brings only pleasure or also a benefit? Some consider it a harmful product, capable of leading to fatness and caries. Let's try to understand this question.

In fact, it's impossible to say unequivocally that chocolate is useful or harmful. It all depends on the kind of chocolate itself: dark (bitter) it, white or milky. Usually, if one talks about the beneficial properties of this sweet treat, they mean bitter chocolate.

Bitter chocolate: good for the body

One of the advantages of dark chocolate is that it helps people suffering from hypertension (hypertension). This is due to the fact that flavonols contained in cocoa beans dilate the blood vessels and thereby reduce high blood pressure in patients.

Bitter chocolate, the use of which is incredibly large, can also increase the level of good cholesterol in the body. Cocoa beans contain stearic acid, which prevents the increase in blood levels of bad cholesterol. Antioxidants, which are part of dark chocolate, help the body protect itself from the harmful effects of free radicals - molecules that damage our body cells and cause changes in DNA, lipids (fats) and proteins.

There is more and more evidence that antioxidants can help slow or even prevent the development of certain cancers. If you want to protect yourself from the "plague of the XXI century" - buy quality bitter chocolate.

The use of dark chocolate lies also in his ability to make you happy. It contains phenethylamine, which produces endorphins. In addition to this, chocolate raises the level of serotonin in the body - the hormone of happiness.

Caloric content of bitter chocolate

Seeing the bitter chocolate, the photo of which hangs on the billboard, do not run to the store for this delicacy only to those who watch the figure. It must be remembered that this product is fatty and high-calorie. In a hundred grams of chocolate more than 500 kcal. Although it contains a high content of cocoa beans and much less additives - sugar (0.2%), butter, compared to white or milk chocolate, which contain up to 65% of sugar. But it is important to note that a small piece of useful treat does not hurt the figure, but will make you happier.

Bitter chocolate composition

According to GOST, bitter chocolate can only be called a confectionery product containing not less than 55% of cocoa beans and not less than 33% of cocoa butter. It is allowed to use cocoa butter substitutes (vegetable solid oils), but their quantity should not exceed 5% of the total content of chocolate in cocoa products. It also contains a small amount of sugar, lecithin and vanillin. Producers should not add dairy fats and milk to bitter chocolate . After all, its benefit depends on the percentage content of cocoa products in it: the higher it is, the better. If you buy, then only bitter chocolate, the benefits of which have been proven by scientists. Just do not forget to carefully study its composition before purchasing. Eat chocolate and be healthy and happy, but know the measure.