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Every Monday, we find the nutrition Time.news of Dr. Binetou Cheikh Seck, dietician-nutritionist at the Nutridéal Dietetic Cabinet in Dakar, Senegal.
What are the components of chocolate?
Chocolate is made from the cocoa bean which is then transformed into cocoa paste to which cocoa butter, sugar, flavourings, milk, sometimes nuts, vegetable fats etc. are added. depending on the type of chocolate (dark, milk or white).
Chocolate is very high in sugar and fat depending on the type. Milk chocolate and white chocolate contain much more sugar than dark chocolate. On the other hand, dark chocolate contains much more fat than the others. This means that in the end, in terms of calories, all chocolates are roughly equivalent. For example, 1 small square of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) of 5G contains 1 sugar plus 1.5 teaspoons of oil.
Apart from the pleasure it gives us, can chocolate be good for our health?
Yes, there is data specifically for chocolate that contains 70% cocoa and more. Due to its richness in flavonoids, this chocolate has beneficial effects on health:
- It can help reduce oxidative stress, which is responsible, among other things, for aging.
- It can help relieve chronic fatigue.
- It provides well-being by stimulating the production of certain molecules in the brain (which explains why some people describe themselves as chocolate “addicts”).
- It may help lower high blood pressure slightly.
How much and how often can you eat chocolate, knowing that this food is very high in fat and potentially in sugar?
As part of a balanced diet, you can eat 2 to 3 squares of dark chocolate a day. In order not to devour the whole tablet, you have to take just what you need and put the rest away.