There is no harm in eating chocolate, but eating too much is not good, and there is no melanin. Chocolate has nutrition!

Nutrition of chocolate

Chocolate is a A much-loved sweet treat. What is the nutritional value of chocolate?

1.1. Ingredients of chocolate

Chocolate is a very high-energy food, mainly composed of cocoa butter, milk powder, sugar and other ingredients. Each 100 grams of chocolate can produce calories equivalent to 150 grams of grain.

Scientists have conducted extensive research on the ingredients of cocoa and chocolate. The chocolate fat (i.e. cocoa butter) first isolated from cocoa is composed of saturated fatty acids (palmitic acid and stearic acid), Composed of monounsaturated fatty acids and other small amounts (less than 5%) of fatty acids. In addition to containing fat and simple sugars, chocolate is also rich in essential minerals, especially copper, potassium and manganese. In fact, it also contains moderate amounts of zinc and iron.

1.2. Chocolate and flavonoids

American researchers have found that eating a small amount of chocolate can increase flavonoids in the blood that affect platelet coagulation, so it is good for the heart.

Researchers at the University of California in the United States have found that dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which can reduce the stickiness of blood platelets. Even eating a small amount of chocolate is also beneficial to the heart. Researchers asked 18 healthy adults each to eat 25 grams of chocolate. After 6 hours, tests found that the concentration of flavonoids in the blood of these 18 people increased, and the clotting time of platelets in their blood was much longer than before eating chocolate. A previous study found the same results, but participants ate four times the amount of flavonoids or flavonoid extracts compared to the latest study. Researchers say that many people like to eat milk chocolate, but milk chocolate does not contain as much flavonoids as dark chocolate. In addition to chocolate, there are many foods that also contain flavonoids, such as fruits, but these foods are not high in calories and fat. .

1.3. Energy of chocolate

Chocolate can provide a high amount of energy. Each kilogram of chocolate can provide 6010 kcal, which is much higher than eggs, fish and other foods. When you have no time to eat breakfast, are stressed at work, are weak after illness, or exercise a lot, you can eat some chocolate to replenish energy. Did you know? According to expert research, chocolate is small in size, high in calories, and easy to absorb. It is helpful for pregnant women to eat a few pieces before giving birth. Last September, the British "Lancet" magazine published the research results of a US scientific research team, saying that chocolate contains phenol, which can prevent heart disease. The phosphorus content of lecithin added to chocolate is very beneficial to children's brain development. In addition, chocolate contains trace amounts of stimulant ingredients, which can refresh the mind and replenish energy when consumed when people are tired. It is of great benefit to drivers, writers, etc. These are probably incomparable to other foods.

2. Chocolate and Health

Many people are worried about eating chocolate, thinking that it will cause weight gain, diabetes and dental caries. In fact, this is a misunderstanding.

Although the fat content in chocolate is much higher than that of other foods, the cocoa butter contained in chocolate is an unsaturated fatty acid and will not make people fat. A large number of experiments have shown that cocoa butter will not increase fat. The amount of cholesterol in the blood. As for the fear that too much sugar in chocolate will cause diabetes, this is also unfounded. According to specific measurements, diabetes is not caused by consuming sucrose; moreover, the average Chinese person currently consumes only 17 grams of sugar per day, and consuming 30-50 grams of sugar per day is absolutely safe. Chocolate is different from candy because it dissolves quickly and is not easy to stay in the mouth, causing little damage to teeth.

Although the fat content of chocolate is high, the oleic acid in it provides monounsaturated fatty acids and has the effect of slightly lowering cholesterol. In recent years, studies on whether chocolate affects blood lipids have consistently shown that eating chocolate (cocoa) food) has no effect on the human body in increasing blood lipids. Eating chocolate will increase the intake of exogenous fat, so the intake of other fats and oils (such as cooking oil and fatty meat, etc.) should be appropriately reduced to maintain the balance of dietary nutrients.

Although chocolate has certain nutrients, it is not advisable to eat too much, but in moderation.