A square of dark chocolate is known to be good for the heart, morale and stress. But doesn’t its milk version really have something interesting to show… the point with two nutritionists;
If there’s a divisive topic around the table other than politics, it’s pitting dark chocolate against its milk version. Some appreciate the bitter complexity of the former, while others prefer the smooth, creamy and rather sweet side of the latter. If all tastes are in nature, then in health, which tablet can we devote ourselves with almost closed eyes? Two experts help us decide.
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Good cocoa for arteries…
There is no need to extend the pause any longer. It’s dark chocolate that wins the match. It owes this victory primarily to its richness in cocoa, ranging from 43% to 100%, depending on the reference, compared to 25 to 40% in milk versions. And as nutritionist Hafid Halhol confirmed, the higher this content in the tablet, the higher the nutritional quality, and the consumer benefits from his body.
Starting with actions to improve the health of our arteries. The doctor tells us that cocoa contains antioxidants, such as flavonoids, which are responsible for lowering bad cholesterol and improving blood circulation.
These effects were confirmed in a 2008 American study of elderly people with hypertension who, after consuming dark chocolate for 15 days, saw a significant drop in blood pressure, better dilation of blood vessel walls and reduced insulin resistance, Sarah reports. Monin, dietitian nutritionist and certified expert National Health Nutrition Program (PNNS).
…. And the brain
According to the expert, when it contains a minimum of 75% cocoa on its label, dark chocolate also appears to be a valuable source of trace elements. “There’s phosphorus, which is essential for bone formation and muscle contraction, zinc and copper, protectors for the immune system, or even manganese to fight the damaging effects of free radicals,” enumerate Sarah Moon. Not forgetting magnesium, known for regulating nerve impulses, fatigue and stress.
And its effects on mental health do not stop there, as cocoa stimulates the action of two neurotransmitters, adds the nutritionist-dietitian. Serotonin, also called the “feel-good hormone,” and phenylethylamine, a psychostimulant that acts on our brains as an anti-depressant. This is also why chocolate causes compulsive tendencies, says Sarah Mooney.
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No more than two squares
Before devouring the entire tablet in their book fake health news(1)The National Institute of Health and Medical Research, however, invites us not to view chocolate as a miracle ingredient. The authors thus remind that “all these different compounds are present in very small amounts in bars (…), even in dark chocolate”.
Knowingly, our two health experts actually encourage moderation and suggest only consuming 1 to 2 quarts, or 30 to 40g, per day. Indeed, dark chocolate is enriched not only with cocoa, but also with cocoa butter, an ingredient rich in saturated fatty acids and sugars. As surprising as it may seem, dark chocolate is even fattier and more caloric than the milk version (591 vs. 537 kcal/100g), as shown in the Ciqual de l’Anses nutritional composition table.
However, this does not make it less healthy, emphasizes Dr. Hafid Halhol. “Dark chocolate and its high cocoa content provide the body with fiber, which has the advantage of limiting the absorption of sugar and fat. The milk pill does not contain it,” informs the doctor.
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Dark chocolate gives the body fiber, the advantage of which is to limit the absorption of sugar and fat.
Hafid Halhol, dietitian doctor
Haron on added sugar
Should we ban the milk chocolate square from our 4pm break? It is not necessary that. According to nutritionist Sarah Mooney, only people with diabetes, lactose intolerance, and casein intolerance (milk sugar and protein, editor’s note) should turn away from it. For others, the expert believes that the product should not be demonized. It remains a “one-taste delight, and its milk contains calcium, which is essential for bone health.”
But here too we will avoid swallowing more than two squares. “It should be consumed more as part of a balanced diet because it contains added sugars, sometimes sweeteners, but also the natural sugars found in lactose. But if you consume too much during the day, they accumulate in excess in the liver and turn into triglycerides, which can lead to weight gain. After all, a chocolate fountain isn’t such a good idea.
(1) fake health newsBy Laurianne Geffroy and Léa Surugue, published by Cherche Midi in association with Inserm, 269 pages, €14.
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Source: Le Figaro
