A 70% dark chocolate contains 70% cocoa powder and cocoa butter (at least 35% cocoa), the rest being almost just sugar. The more “titrated” the chocolate, the richer it is in cocoa and cocoa butter, and fortunately, as a result, the less sweet it is.
Milk chocolate contains between 25 and 40% cocoa and cocoa butter, with the other two ingredients being milk (milk powder) and sugar.
Source: Stansberry Research
Eating chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, has been shown to increase mood and feelings of well-being. It is also high in beneficial elements, including antioxidants and minerals, which can boost your general health.
Dark chocolate is the healthiest type of chocolate. Because dark chocolate has more cocoa (typically 70 to 80 percent cocoa, but many up to 100! ), it includes more flavanols than milk chocolate.
However, the more cocoa you have, the more bitter your chocolate will be—which is why milk chocolate has a lot of milk and sugar to sweeten things up. However, eating something high in sugar and saturated fat harms your health.
Health Advantages of Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is made with cocoa high in flavanols, compounds found in plants such as the cacao tree (where the cocoa bean grows). The peculiar flavan-3-ols found in cacao beans are responsible for the bitter flavor of pure cocoa.
Because cocoa flavanols contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities, they may aid with the following:
Keep your heart healthy.
Separate studies have found that dark chocolate may protect against heart and blood vessel disease (cardiovascular). Dark chocolate offers anti-inflammatory characteristics as well as properties that aid in the prevention of blood clots and the decrease of blood pressure. More research is needed to confirm whether all of these effects interact.
Reduce your chances of developing diabetes.
Cocoa flavanols are expected to promote insulin sensitivity, which may lessen the risk of diabetes in the long run.
Enhance your vision
One small study discovered that people who ate dark chocolate had better vision 2 hours later than those who ate milk chocolate. It is unclear how long this impact will persist or whether it will work in practice. A comparable modest study found that eating dark chocolate did not affect vision. Much further research into this potential benefit is required.
Reduce your blood pressure.
One review study discovered that eating dark chocolate helped to lower blood pressure in small doses. Other studies have found that it improves blood vessel flexibility and function and may help prevent arteriosclerosis and arterial stiffness caused by plaque and fat buildup.
Is there any danger in consuming dark chocolate?
The answer, like with most things, is moderation. Chocolate has many calories, which might lead to weight gain over time. Furthermore, dark and milk chocolate may be high in sugar (though dark chocolate is superior in this regard). However, eating a small amount of dark chocolate will likely provide more benefits than harm.
