How Nutritious is Chocolate? - I Like Chocolates

Pieces of dark chocolate and milk chocolate. Image by Security from Pixabay

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Chocolate is many things to many people: a mood-boosting treat, a special treat, a symbol of love, a clever marketing device, a harmless indulgence, a tasty way to make a health-conscious diet taste better, a symbol of the Easter Bunny’s generosity. There is no doubt that chocolate has gained a bad reputation over the years due to the high levels of fat and sugar. But, this is of course not the whole story and there are a number of health benefits of eating chocolate.

Cocoa is A Source of Minerals

Chocolate is one of the best sources of calcium, which is one of the most importants minerals in our body. It helps us to maintain strong bones and teeth. An additional mineral contained in chocolate is magnesium, which is also found in out bodies in abundance. Magnesium helps our bodies to produce energy from food, can help to lower blood pressure, and also to prevent inflammation. Along with the first two minerals, chocolate also contains potassium. Amongst the things that the body needs potassium for are regulating nerve signals as well as muscle contractions.

Chocolate is a Source of Antioxidants

Along with the minerals that it contains, chocolate also contains antioxidants that help to protect your body from free radicals. Too many free radicals in the body can eventually contribute to numerous serious diseases which include heart disease and cancer. The accumulation of free radicals can also help contribute to aging.

In summary, chocolate is indeed healthy and nutritious. The nutrition found in chocolate mostly comes from cocoa and not from the other ingredients. Most chocolate contains a lot of sugar, and this is what’s mostly responsible for chocolate’s reputation as an unhealthy food. However, there are an increasing number of chocolate brands that use healthy sweeteners like erythritol or stevia instead of sugar. Also, there are numerous recipes online which show you how to make your own healthy chocolate at home. Whatever type of chocolate you like, there are options for enjoying it without guilt.