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Is Dark Chocolate Healthier? You Need To Know

There is far more to chocolate than just its color. In this home tip, we will explain whether you live healthier with the dark version of the candy, as some rumors claim.

Dark chocolate – healthy or not?

The myth is true that there is a difference between dark and light chocolate.

  • Dark chocolate contains flavanols. These plant compounds are antioxidants that have a positive effect on your heart health.
  • However, dark chocolate usually tastes more bitter than other types, which can also be attributed to the healthy ingredient. However, since bitter chocolate is sold less by most consumers, the flavanols are removed from the product by the chocolate manufacturers.
  • For chocolate to have any health benefits for you, you have to make sure that it contains at least 50 mg of flavonoids. Milk chocolate usually only contains a little over 10 mg of antioxidants – white chocolate, on the other hand, contains none at all.
  • When eating chocolate, however, you must not forget that, in addition to the healthy antioxidants, it also contains fats and sugars that the flavanols cannot compensate for. Therefore, you should refrain from using dark candy as a source of antioxidants. However, if you want to reach for a piece of chocolate, dark chocolate is the healthier alternative.
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Written by Florentina Lewis

Hello! My name is Florentina, and I'm a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a background in teaching, recipe development, and coaching. I'm passionate about creating evidence-based content to empower and educate people to live healthier lifestyles. Having been trained in nutrition and holistic wellness, I use a sustainable approach toward health & wellness, using food as medicine to help my clients achieve that balance they are looking for. With my high expertise in nutrition, I can create customized meal plans that fit a specific diet (low-carb, keto, Mediterranean, dairy-free, etc.) and target (losing weight, building muscle mass). I am also a recipe creator and reviewer.

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