Choose dark chocolate for your heart (2024)

FAQs

Choose dark chocolate for your heart? ›

“Stick with minimally processed dark chocolate bars that are at least 70 percent cocoa to obtain the most flavanols. But make sure to limit your portions.” Keep in mind the higher the percentage of cocoa, the greater the amount of flavanols, but also the greater the bitter flavor.

“Stick with minimally processed dark chocolate bars that are at least 70 percent cocoa to obtain the most flavanols. But make sure to limit your portions.” Keep in mind the higher the percentage of cocoa, the greater the amount of flavanols, but also the greater the bitter flavor.

Both experts recommend choosing chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content because it will have less added sugar and more phytochemicals than chocolate with less cocoa. A 70% chocolate bar will list cocoa beans or one of its derivatives — cocoa solids or cocoa liquor — as the first ingredient, Politi says.

The studies in this article generally used 20–30 g of dark chocolate per day. Dark chocolate with higher percentages of cacao solids typically contains less sugar but more fat. More cacao also means more flavanols, so it is best to choose dark chocolate that includes at least 70 percent cacao solids or more.

But all chocolates are not created equal. Research continues to point to dark chocolate as having many health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, preventing blood clots, improving memory, lowering cholesterol and even preventing some types of cancer.

Due to its higher concentration of cocoa, dark chocolate is packed with compounds that can be good for your heart, such as flavonoids. Flavonoids are a type of polyphenols, which are naturally occurring chemicals found in plants.

Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, and has been shown in some studies to reduce blood pressure. Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol, making it a heart-healthy snack. Stick to smaller amounts, and choose a dark chocolate that has at least 70% cocoa content.

Lindt Excellence 100% Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar is made for the adventurous chocolate lover. Its dark colour and earthy undertones make for an intense tasting experience. Perfect for pairing with your favourite beverage or to elevate any dessert.

The safest choices. By far the best known brand that Consumer Reports found to have lower levels of both cadmium and lead is Ghirardelli. It made the safer choices list with two of its bars — Intense Dark Chocolate and Intense Dark Chocolate Twilight Delight. Valrhona's Abinao Dark Chocolate also made the list.

What is the daily recommended amount of dark chocolate? The recommended “dose” is approximately 1 to 2 ounces or 30-60g, experts say. Indulge in anything more than that, and you may be consuming too many calories.

What is the best time to eat dark chocolate? ›

The best time to eat chocolate is during the day. It's best not to eat it on an empty stomach or late in the evening as it's a stimulant containing caffeine. Chocolate is also perfect during sport and before activities that require composure and concentration.

Side effects of dark chocolate

- Palpitation: The cocoa content in dark chocolate can increase the pulse rate and blood pressure in case one eats it in larger quantities. - Constipation: Eating too much dark chocolate can lead to constipation as it contains caffeine that leads to dehydration and slows down digestion.

Contains a high level of saturated fat

Saturated fat is not an essential nutrient and with increasing intakes there is a increased risk of coronary heart disease (IOM 2005a; USDA and DHHS 2010).

One large egg has about 186 mg of cholesterol — all of which is found in the yolk. If your diet contains little other cholesterol, according to some studies, eating up to an egg a day might be an OK choice. If you like eggs but don't want the cholesterol, use only the egg whites.

However, cholesterol can be bad if too much comes from foods high in saturated fat. This is why it is important to eat foods to help lower your cholesterol, such as those high in soluble fiber. Fruits like avocados and apples, and citrus fruits like oranges and bananas are foods that can help lower cholesterol.

Due to its high amount of unsaturated fats, peanut butter may help reduce a person's LDL cholesterol levels. Having optimal LDL levels is linked with a lower risk of heart disease. A 2015 study found that people who had a high intake of nuts may have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.

And moderate amounts of minimally processed, high quality dark chocolate may also be good for your health. Aim for chocolate that is at least 70% cocoa. This contains more natural fiber, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, and fewer other ingredients, like refined sugar and additives.

And the winner is…

Dark chocolate! Because of its lower sugar and fat content and its higher flavanol content, dark chocolate has benefits over milk chocolate. However, both should be eaten in moderation because both contain more sugar and fat than is ideal in a heart-healthy diet.

the 70% cocoa version is higher in sugar but lower in saturated fat. The 85% cocoa version is higher in saturated fat, isn't saturated fat the big thing we should all be avoiding in our diet.