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Where does chocolate even come from?Before going into which kind of chocolate belongs in your belly, you should know what it actually is. It’s actually been beloved since, when the Mesoamericans first began sipping it as a frothy fermented beverage. Yep, cocoa was basically the original kombucha. Obviously things have changed a lot since then, but chocolates all start the same. After seeds are harvested from cacao pods that grow on small trees native to the Amazon Basin,. Then from there, those nibs go through different processes that result in the many forms of chocolate you see on store shelves, from powders and liquids to chocolate bars.
Dark chocolate vs. Milk chocolateThe more chocolate is processed, the more is loses the qualities that make it healthy in the first place. Many of the benefits of chocolate come from flavanols (phytonutrients found in cocoa), which have antioxidant effects—and a very bitter taste. But as it’s fermented, alkalized, and roasted to help neutralize that taste, those flavanols start to disappear, according to the. Since dark chocolate contains a minimum of 35 percent cocoa, it keeps more of its health benefits than milk chocolate, which only contains under 10 percent cocoa—AKA you’re barely getting any chocolate at all (but something that tastes really stinkin’ good). The healthiest type of chocolateWhen it comes to which type of chocolate is the healthiest, the answer is simple: it’s dark chocolate by a landslide. Since dark varieties contain super-high cocoa contents (usually 70 to 80 percent, but many up to 100!), they contain more flavanols than milk chocolate.
11 Amazing Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate. It Boosts Psychological Health. You may not believe it but consuming dark chocolate can improve your psychological health. It is a powerhouse of plenty of nutrients that function to soothe your tensed nerves. You can opt for a piece of dark chocolate in the state of despair. Dark chocolate is rich in minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. The cocoa in dark chocolate also contains antioxidants called flavonoids, which may provide several health benefits.
But the more cocoa you have, the more bitter your chocolate will be—and that’s exactly why milk chocolate adds in a lot of milk and sugar to sweeten things up. Unfortunately, eating something that’s primarily sugar and saturated fat is a no-go for your health, though. But don’t worry: You can still get your choco-fix and do something good for your body at the same time. Experts sticking with varieties that are 70 percent cocoa or higher to reap the benefits—like helping you and even. Plus, dark chocolate is packed with important minerals—like magnesium, zinc, and —which can also help keep your. How to shop for a healthy dark chocolateThe key is to make sure you’re getting a real dark chocolate option— not milk chocolate in disguise. Nutritionists say that means looking for something that has more than 70 percent cocoa, a low natural sugar content, and a short ingredient list (with no dairy, including lactose, milk solids, whey, casein, or butter fat).
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