The response of our dietician is clear.
Gluttony of the day, dark chocolate is often considered the best choice to have fun while enjoying many health benefits. “It is super interesting thanks to all the cocoa it contains”confirms the dietician Alexandra Tijoux. Dark chocolate contains more cocoa butter than milk chocolate which contains more sugar and lactose, and “The more we reduce the part of cocoa in chocolate, the less we benefit from its effects”.
The cocoa that makes up dark chocolate contains polyphenols, and more particularly flavonoids, beneficial compounds for the cardiovascular system. “Flavonoids act on the quality of the arteries”continues the dietician. Blood circulation is improved. “Studies also highlight that cocoa helps regulate hypertension.” Dark chocolate also protects us from what is called free radicals, “Because polyphenols and flavonoids are antioxidants”recalls Alexandra Tijoux. “The more antioxidants we bring to our diet, the more we will limit the accumulation of free radicals, molecules that will age our cells.”
Dark chocolate also contains many trace elements, including magnesium. “Lack of magnesium is a scourge in our stressed society.” Magnesium is a myorelaxing, it means that it helps relaxation and stress management. “Now when you are stressed, you lose magnesium in the urine.” The magnesium contained in dark chocolate can therefore counterbalance this loss. But dark chocolate is “Still a little more caloric than the others (milk chocolate or white, editor’s note) because it contains more fat (” lipids “on the label). And fat (even if it’s” good “fat for health) is more caloric than sugar. advise our interlocutor.
The two squares of daily dark chocolate can be tasted as is, as topping on preparations, or even melted in recipes. “You can also use cocoa powder, to try to vary”offers the dietician. What is important when choosing his chocolate is to favor a chocolate with at least 70 to 80% cocoa and whose “sugar” arrives in the second and even third position of the ingredients after cocoa butter and the Cocoa paste. Especially not first. Finally, chocolate consumption must be part of a balanced and varied diet.