Valentine’s Day is inextricably linked to love, gifts and of course… chocolate! It is no coincidence that it is considered the “sweet of love”, since it contains substances that affect mood and cause euphoria. However, beyond its taste that we like and the pleasant feelings it causes us when we consume it, do we know what nutritional value it has? Let’s look at the three basic categories of chocolate and their characteristics.
1. Dark chocolate
Η μαύρη σοκολάτα έχει υψηλή περιεκτικότητα σε κακάο και πολύ λίγη ή καθόλου προσθήκη sugarς. Θεωρείται υγιεινή επιλογή, καθώς έχει μεγάλη περιεκτικότητα σε antioxidants, ιδιαίτερα φλαβονοειδή, τα οποία συμβάλλουν στη βελτίωση της καρδιαγγειακής healthς. Μελέτες, επίσης, δείχνουν ότι η κατανάλωσή της βελτιώνει τα επίπεδα σακχάρου στο αίμα, αυξάνει την “καλή” cholesterol HDL και μειώνει την “κακή” cholesterol LDL, μειώνει την υψηλή αρτηριακή πίεση και βελτιώνει τη διάθεση.
Nutritional value (per 100 g):
- Calories: 500-600 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 40-50 g.
- Fat: 30-50 g.
- Proteins: 5-10 g.
- Fiber: 10-15 g.
2. Milk chocolate
Milk chocolate contains less cocoa than dark chocolate and is made up of cocoa solids, cocoa butter, sugar, and milk, which gives it a sweeter and smoother taste. While it also contains antioxidants, its high sugar content reduces its overall health benefits.
Nutritional value (per 100 g):
- Calories: 530-570 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 50-60 g.
- Fat: 30-35 g.
- Proteins: 7-8 g.
- Sugar: 45-55 gr.
3. White chocolate
White chocolate does not contain cocoa solids, but only cocoa butter, sugar and milk. Due to the absence of cocoa, it does not contain the beneficial flavonoids of dark chocolate. It is a sweeter and fattier option, with lower nutritional value.
Nutritional value (per 100 g):
- Calories: 540-580 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 55-60 g.
- Fat: 30-40 g.
- Proteins: 5-6 g.
- Sugar: 50-60 gr.
Conclusion
Chocolate can be part of a balanced diet, as long as it is consumed in moderation. Dark chocolate is the most nutritious choice, as it contains less sugar and more antioxidants. Milk chocolate and white chocolate have a higher amount of sugar and fewer health benefits, but can be consumed occasionally. If we prefer milk chocolate, but want to be careful about our sugar intake, we can choose a σοκολάτα με στέβια.
Χρόνια πολλά σε όλους τους ερωτευμένους…και μη!
