Lindt 85% is the best combo of value-for-money and healthy benefits.
Dark chocolate is packed full of important minerals, including iron, magnesium, zinc, copper and phosphorus. In your body, these minerals are used to support factors such as immunity (zinc), can help keep your bones and teeth healthy (phosphorus), and contribute to better sleep quality (magnesium).
High-cocoa polyphenol-rich chocolate improves blood pressure in patients with diabetes and hypertension. Shin, J. H., et al. (2022). Consumption of 85% cocoa dark chocolate improves mood in association with gut microbial changes in healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial.
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 are the side effects of eating dark chocolate? The dark chocolate side effects may be associated with caffeine. It may cause sleeplessness, nervousness, increased urination, fast heartbeat, skin allergies, migraine and headache, nausea, and stomach problems like gas and constipation.
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. There is evidence that the nutrients and antioxidants in cocoa — particularly flavanols — may help: boost beneficial gut bacteria.
Chocolate has shown to have surprising health benefits. Limited amounts of Dark Chocolate are proven to be beneficial for the liver.
It also contains a moderate amount of saturated fat, which can negatively affect blood lipid levels, though its heart-protective effects from flavanols appear to outweigh the risk. Choosing dark chocolate and eating modest quantities may offer the greatest health benefits.
If you look at a large, 3.5-ounce bar of very dark chocolate (70-85% cocoa), you'll find around 80 milligrams of caffeine. A similar bar of plain milk chocolate averages 20 milligrams of caffeine. Hot cocoa only has about nine milligrams per eight-ounce cup.
In contrast, the higher percentage 85% bar is more assertive on the palate. The presence of cocoa powder adds very robust cocoa notes. “This is a bar for purists who enjoy a bold taste,” says Thomas. And while, Lindt's 90% bar has more cacao, it's still quite smooth and creamy, thanks to the presence of cocoa butter.
Anti-inflammatory effect. Several experimental studies found that Dark chocolate also has an anti-inflammatory effect.
And even though quality dark chocolate is a better choice than milk chocolate, it is still chocolate, meaning it's high in calories and saturated fat. To avoid weight gain, Amidor recommends eating no more than 1 ounce (oz) of dark chocolate per day.
However, dark chocolate is a high-calorie food, containing about 150–170 calories per ounce. It also contains saturated fat, which may affect cholesterol levels.
Polyphenols in dark chocolate may improve insulin sensitivity, or how well insulin works in the body. This, in turn, may help control blood sugar, according to research published in Endocrine Abstracts.
Dark chocolate contains some stearic acid and this has led to claims that chocolate does not raise blood cholesterol. Unfortunately, dark chocolate also contains saturated fats which do raise cholesterol.
Could Exceed Safe Heavy Metal Consumption. While dark chocolate can have positive effects on your health, a 2022 study by Consumer Reports found that eating dark chocolate everyday could be harmful for adults, children and pregnant people.
You can enjoy dark chocolates as often as you want. However, for a person who wishes to lose weight with these chocolates, dark chocolates should be eaten on an empty stomach or 30 minutes after a solid-food meal. They can also be eaten as a snack between lunch and dinner.
Ingredients: COCOA MASS, COCOA POWDER, COCOA BUTTER, BROWN SUGAR, BOURBON VANILLA BEAN.
There are 118 calories in 2 squares (20 g) of Frey 85% Dark Chocolate.
There are 115 calories in 2 squares (20 g) of Lindt 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate.
Lindt Excellence Dark Chocolate is a delicious chocolate treat that can be used to improve one's health. Dark chocolate with 99% cocoa solids is high in cocoa content and low in sugar and calories, making it a healthy choice.