Chocolate is a confectionery product made from cocoa beans ground with sugar. Depending on the concentration of cocoa in chocolate, there are black, dessert, milk and white chocolate. Due to its unique properties, chocolate is one of the most popular desserts. The calorie content of chocolate is a variable concept. The energy value of chocolate depends not only on the mass fraction of cocoa, but also on other additives used in the manufacturing process. What are the beneficial properties of chocolate? How many calories are in different types of chocolate? How to combine chocolate and diet?
Chocolate: varieties, calorie content of chocolate, beneficial properties
Chocolate and its beneficial properties are still the subject of debate among doctors, many of whom agree that chocolate is an indispensable component of the diet due to its high content of nutrients, nutritional properties and taste.
Nutrient composition of chocolate:
- Carbohydrates – from 48 to 55 g;
- Fats – 32-38 g;
- Proteins – 4.7 – 6.2 g.
Chocolate also contains alkaloids (theobromine and caffeine - up to 1%) and phenylethylamine (up to 0.5%):
- Phenylethylamine is a chemical substance, the basis of many neurotransmitters; derivatives of this substance are psychedelics and stimulants;
- Theobromine is an alkaloid with properties similar to caffeine; in low dosages it causes stimulation of the heart muscle;
- Caffeine is an alkaloid that is a powerful psychostimulant.
It is these substances in chocolate that affect the emotional centers of the brain, causing a feeling of some euphoria, helping to improve mood, and also determining the properties of chocolate as an antidepressant. The concentration of these substances in chocolate is negligible, which makes this product absolutely safe for humans.
The calorie content of chocolate in 100 g of product reaches 680 calories and will depend on the composition and fillings of the treat. At the same time, the calorie content of chocolates is slightly lower and reaches 480 calories per 100 g of product.
Chocolate contains a number of vitamins, micro- and macroelements, the most important of which are potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, as well as vitamins PP, B1, B2, E.
Despite the relatively high calorie content of chocolate, this product has unique properties:
- Tannin stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, promotes the removal of toxins from the body, providing a mild laxative effect;
- Potassium and magnesium activate the muscular and nervous systems, which makes chocolate a particularly useful product for people involved in sports. Magnesium stimulates the rhythm of the heart and ensures the transmission of nerve impulses. Potassium has a normalizing effect on blood pressure;
- Glucose improves brain activity, increases ability to work, reduces mental fatigue;
- The combination of cocoa butter and sugar has a stimulating effect on the production of serotonin and endorphin in the brain;
- Phenols in chocolate prevent the narrowing of blood vessels, the formation of blood clots, stimulate blood flow, thereby reducing the load on the heart;
- Theobromine and caffeine increase the body's resistance to stress.
The high calorie content of any type of chocolate helps to quickly saturate the body and keep you full for a longer period of time.
Despite the high calorie content of chocolate, this product does not lead to obesity when consumed in moderation. It is also recommended to consume chocolate in limited quantities for hypertension, diabetes, and various heart diseases.
The results of some independent studies have shown that regular consumption of chocolate in small quantities reduces the risk of developing gastrointestinal ulcers, various neoplasms, and also enhances the body's protective functions.
Contraindications and harm to the body
Excessive consumption of dark chocolate can lead to weight gain. The product causes negative reactions in case of individual intolerance or allergy.
Contraindications to eating chocolate are as follows:
- gout;
- urolithiasis, since the product can affect the formation of kidney stones;
- systematic consumption of chocolate in large quantities causes food addiction;
- In older people, chocolate increases the risk of osteoporosis.
The amount of caffeine contained in chocolate is safe for health.
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Dark chocolate: calorie content, composition
According to modern standards, chocolate containing 60% cocoa powder or more is bitter.
100 g of dark chocolate, the calorie content of which reaches 540 calories, contains up to 40% sugar, up to 30% cocoa butter and about 30% cocoa, which determines the composition of real chocolate. Dark chocolate, whose calorie content is slightly lower than the energy value of dairy varieties of this product, can also add nuts, coffee beans, candied fruits, wafers and other components that change the calorie content of chocolate. Recently, chocolate with various candy fillings has become especially popular. When purchasing chocolate, you need to pay special attention to its composition. Cocoa butter is an expensive ingredient and is often replaced with cheaper fats (palm, coconut, peanut oil, animal fats), which significantly increase the calorie content of chocolate, reducing its quality and taste.
Benefits and features of low-calorie chocolates
Not only dark chocolate is considered healthy (in moderation) and safe for your figure. A product that does not contain sucrose will help prevent the appearance of excess adipose tissue. Chocolate, in the production of which sugar substitutes are used, tastes little different from regular chocolate. Some consumers claim that the low-calorie sweetness even prevails over classic chocolate.
Thanks to the components with which it was possible to create a dietary product, the dessert has a number of benefits (subject to moderate consumption):
- has a positive effect on blood composition;
- stabilizes blood pressure;
- increases the body's resistance to pathogenic microflora;
- does not affect the increase in blood glucose;
- does not contribute to weight gain.
The product, made from high-quality raw materials, normalizes the functioning of the nervous system and stimulates brain activity.
After eating a bar of low-calorie sweets:
- there is an increase in the concentration of serotonin and endorphins (mood improves);
- sleep is normalized;
- performance increases.
Chocolate with low energy value is recommended to be consumed during stressful situations. It will block the production of cortisol, which will make it easier to cope with depression and nervous overload.
Milk chocolate: calories, composition
Milk chocolate, which has a calorie content of up to 550 calories, contains 20% milk powder, up to 30% cocoa (up to 15% cocoa butter) and up to 35% sugar. Due to its lower cocoa content, milk chocolate does not have the same beneficial properties as dark chocolate. However, it is milk chocolate that is recommended for children, since it does not have such a strong stimulating effect on the nervous system.
The milk and cream contained in milk chocolate, which is quite high in calories, has a calming effect and helps to effectively cope with insomnia and excessive agitation. Milk chocolate, unlike bitter chocolate, is recommended to be excluded from the diet.
Useful tips
In conclusion, I would like to note that when consuming any sweet product, it is important to include mindfulness. Focus your attention completely on absorbing food, try to distinguish the rich shades of taste of dark chocolate, brew yourself delicious tea in a beautiful porcelain bowl. Never eat chocolate in a hurry! Do not turn pleasure into “fast food”, then the feeling of fullness will come faster, and you will not have problems with overeating, which is directly related to excess weight gain and health problems. Try to find the “sweetness of life” in other things, and sweeten it just a little with chocolate, like adding a pinch of curry to a finished dish!
In the videos below you can also find interesting facts and answers to your questions about different types of chocolate.
I wish you all health, energy and vigor! Taking care of you, Victoria Gurova.
Chocolate and diet: acceptable amounts
How many calories are in chocolate? The calorie content of chocolate can reach 680 calories depending on the ingredients and various flavorings. How can chocolate be combined with a diet if it is high in calories?
It should be noted that during the diet, only dark chocolate without flavoring additives (nuts, dried fruits, candied fruits, fondant fillings) is allowed. Chocolate affects the pleasure centers of the brain, and thus causes a feeling of satisfaction. Some nutritionists recommend finishing each meal during the diet with a small piece of chocolate, which will have enough stimulants to ensure a feeling of fullness. With such consumption of this delicacy during a diet, you can not take into account how many calories are in chocolate.
But milk chocolate and other chocolate products should be completely excluded from the diet, and the amount of their consumption in the regular diet should be reduced. Thus, the calorie content of chocolates is slightly lower than the calorie content of chocolate, but the candies do not have such beneficial properties, do not provide such a long-term feeling of satiety, and also do not cause a feeling of satisfaction.
To create a dietary diet, nutritionists recommend giving preference to varieties of dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (from 72% and above), the bright taste and nutritional properties of which can provide long-term satiety and satisfaction. At the same time, the calorie content of chocolate with a higher concentration of cocoa is significantly lower, since the calorie content of 100 g of cocoa is 400 calories.
The benefits of chocolate for men
In popular women's magazines you can find information that dark chocolate is a natural aphrodisiac and increases sexual desire in men.
People often tend to believe in myths. After all, the word “aphrodisiac” contains a reference to the ancient Greek and arousing goddess of love - Aphrodite. As we know, Aphrodite arose from the foam of the sea, and reached the shore on a shell. Since then, desire-enhancing properties have also been attributed to oysters. I would not like to upset you, dear readers, but at the moment there are no reliable studies proving that there are products that have at least some magical effect on libido.
The benefits of dark chocolate for men are absolutely the same as for women. Benefits for heart health, brain health and good mood are a bonus. All this gives us the green light to include sweets in our diet.
It's also helpful to eat some chocolate before an intense workout to provide your body with extra energy.
An abundance of additives and fillings
The final energy value of one chocolate bar is strongly influenced by the numerous components included in its composition. Often, calorie content depends on a variety of additives, but not only. Some careless manufacturers violate the classic recipe for making chocolate and add insufficient cocoa butter to it, diluting it with cheap substitutes. Most often this is palm oil. This trick not only increases the calorie content of the chocolate treat many times over, but also harms people’s health. In particular, it is known that active consumption of palm oil threatens the emergence of cancer. Therefore, it is best to choose brands from well-known manufacturers, as they try to adhere to the classic recipe so as not to discredit their reputation.
If we talk about additives in chocolates, their variety is truly impressive. The most commonly used inclusions include:
- nuts (peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds);
- coconut flakes;
- cookie;
- raisin;
- sesame;
- yoghurt filler;
- waffles;
- cognac;
- candied fruit;
- caramel.
The most favorite addition to those with a sweet tooth are nuts. They themselves are quite high in calories, so the energy value of such desserts is very high. Dark chocolate with the addition of various types of nuts reaches 550–560 calories per 100 grams. For milk with nuts it rises to 570 calories. The most acceptable option is white chocolate with nuts, which has a modest 545 calories.
Dark chocolate with coconut filling will add up to 534. Milk chocolate with coconut has a calorie content of about 547-550. White chocolate with coconut flakes reaches the highest energy value - 562 calories.
As a rule, manufacturers do not produce chocolate bars with one cookie as an additive. Most often on store shelves you can find milk chocolate options with cookies and raisins. The calorie content of such a product per hundred grams reaches 502–513 calories. Raisins also come in tandem with nuts and pieces of jelly. A 100-gram bar of milk chocolate with these inclusions contains 512 calories.
An additive such as sesame is also high in calories, which is expressed in the final figures: dark chocolate - 540 calories, milk chocolate - 565. For chocolates with yogurt fillings, the figure is slightly lower. Thus, dark chocolate with yogurt and berries has a calorie content of 515, milk chocolate has 578, and white chocolate has 566. But wafer crumbs, which are most often found in the recipe for dairy types, add energy value to them, bringing it to 548 calories.
Dark chocolate with cognac has a fairly low energy content. There are 490 calories per hundred grams of this dessert. The milk variety with the addition of cognac has between 453 and 490 calories. The energy value of chocolate bars with various candied fruits will be higher. For example, the black variety with candied lemon and ginger will add 528 calories. There will be a little less in a dark bar with candied lemon peel and coffee - 518. The calorie content of the milk delicacy with candied peel reaches 540.
