Chocolate: types, properties and benefits of this food

Let's talk about chocolate, this delicious food that many of us cannot resist for its aroma, texture and sweet flavor. The best friend of many for moments of sadness and happiness, which cannot be missed in desserts or in our lives.

Although we love it and surely feel guilty every time we eat it, there are many datos about chocolate that we do not know and they would surprise us. Did you know that there are different types of chocolate? And that its properties can be beneficial for health? We will tell you about it in this article!

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What is chocolate

The chocolate is a highly energetic food that has cocoa as its main ingredient. In this way, a chocolate bar is made to a greater or lesser extent by cocoa powder or paste and powdered sugar. But it must be at least 35% cocoa for it to be considered chocolate.

As it is not only the product of the cocoa fruit, chocolate tends to provide a large amount of calories, sugars, and fats, depending on the type of chocolate it is, and that is why it is the first thing we decide to remove from our diet when we want to lose weight.

However, there are certain types of chocolate that provide us with greater benefits from cocoa and less from sugars, so We could moderately consume this type of chocolate on a daily basis (no more than 2 ounces and even a little less depending on the plan nutritional).

The 3 types of chocolate there are

In order to properly choose the chocolate that is most beneficial for us, we must recognize the 3 main types of chocolate. Here we do not include its variations such as chocolate with nuts or fruits, because after all they are variations of the same type of chocolate.

1. Milk chocolate

Milk chocolate, the most common and popularIn addition to cocoa paste and sugar, it is also made up of milk. It is generally the chocolate that we like the most, for its sweet and creamy flavor at the same time. We can also find it in different presentations and variations.

Regarding the distribution of its percentages between cocoa paste, milk and sugar, we can find different measures, but generally the percentage of cocoa is below 50%. It is quite common to find it with 20% cocoa, so the rest is sugar and milk. Some of these chocolates are made with artificial sweeteners and vegetable fat.

2. Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate or dark chocolate, as some call it, is the type of chocolate that is made solely from cocoa paste and sugar, although this can also be mixed with fruits, nuts and other flavorings. This is the healthiest type of chocolate for our body, as it has at least 50% cocoa. In the same way, the more percentage of cocoa it has, the less sugar we consume and the more beneficial it is for us.

The ideal would be to always decide on dark chocolate that has a minimum of 65% cocoa, and therefore less sugar and less fat. This is the type of chocolate that we eat in balanced nutritional plans. You will realize that with 2 chocolate bars you are more than satisfied.

3. White chocolate

Although it is very popular and consumed, the so-called white chocolate is not actually a type of chocolate, as it does not contain cocoa paste, which is the fundamental ingredient for it to be considered chocolate. Instead, it is made with cocoa butter, sugar, sweeteners and milk solids, so it is the one that provides the most fat of all and has the sweetest taste (and the most delicious, for many).

Properties and benefits of chocolate

We already know that there are different types of chocolate and that dark chocolate is the one that gives us the most benefits and properties of cocoa, the main ingredient of this food. Next we tell you what are the properties and benefits of this type of chocolate, which is the one that has from 50% cocoa.

1. Chocolate properties

Every time we eat chocolate, its multiple properties and nutrients, beneficial for the proper functioning of our body. Chocolate is a food very rich in fiber, iron, manganese, copper, monounsaturated and saturated fats, caffeine, theobromine, selenium and zinc, among others.

2. Chocolate contains flavonoids

One of the properties of chocolate that are very beneficial for our body are the flavonoids, which act as antioxidants that protect our skin free radicals and protect it, among other things, from the harmful effects of the sun.

Also stimulate and facilitate blood flow, as they avoid the congestion of the arteries and therefore, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. And let's not forget its aphrodisiac effect, as it improves blood flow to the sexual organs and its delicious aroma invites pleasure.

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3. Improve our brain functions

By stimulating blood flow, chocolate helps improve our brain functions, like memory and concentration. But not only this, it also improves our vision by increasing blood flow to our retinas.

4. Improve our mood

Not for nothing do we decide to eat chocolate when we are sad, because one of the benefits of chocolate is that it improves our mood.

This is due to the saturated fatty acids it contains, such as stearic acid and palmitic acid. These stimulate our neural activity in regions of the brain related to pleasure, so we feel happier. Try it especially in the pre-menstrual phase of your period.

5. It gives us energy

If you need an extra push, you should know that chocolate provides a lot of energy. With a single chocolate bonbon we have the necessary energy to run 150 meters, so it helps us in moments of fatigue, stress and tiredness.

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