The dietician Alexandra Tijoux explains how to have fun without harming her health.
Considered a gourmet alternative good for health, dark chocolate is the little pleasure of many people. Particularly in snacks in the afternoon when you need a boost, in comfort in the event of a blues or even at the end of the day to relax. In short, chocolate is a reward. The advantage of black is that it is richer in cocoa butter and magnesium than milk chocolate. Can we eat it in the evening without risk for sleep? The line? The dietician Alexandra Tijoux enlightens us.
Because it contains magnesium, dark chocolate promotes relaxation and “helps relax a little “ confirms the expert. The cocoa also contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid precursor of serotonin which is the hormone of well-being. Once secreted, serotonin will release melatonin, the famous hormone that helps sleep. “This is part of the contributions that can promote sleep” thus confirms the expert. But can we eat it in the evening without fear of insomnia?
“In dark chocolate, there are caffeine derivatives that can stimulate the body a little too much. These caffeine derivatives can go so far as to prevent some people from sleeping” replies Alexandra Tijoux. However, “As long as it is not overconsumption, there is no problem in particular for sleep”. According to her, it is ideally necessary “Give a little time to digestion in the evening” By stopping eating one to two hours before bedtime and “Limit to two squares of dark chocolate per day”. If you plan to go to bed at 11 p.m. for example, eat your square between 8 and 9 p.m., not after.
Regarding the weight, it is not necessarily the time of the day when it is eaten that can be problematic but the way of consuming it. As Alexandra Tijoux explains “If it is taken isolated, it can trigger a peak of blood sugar and make us want to resume it”. This is why you have to be wary in the evening or at another moment of the day. At the end of the afternoon in snacks“It is better to take it with other foods that contain magnesium or tryptophan such as almonds. This mixture can help hold until the end of the day”. Dark chocolate “is not a food to demonize. If it meets a desire for pleasure, you have to listen to it” concludes the dietician.