Posted by kathryn in A Balanced Diet, Q & A Thursday and Food & Health Myths

Kicking off Q & A Thursday today is a question from a friend:

What’s the healthiest chocolate?

Ah chocolate, it’s such a popular food. There’s nothing more likely to grab a newspaper headline than when a group of researchers find something good in chocolate.

What’s chocolate made of?

The basic ingredients of a chocolate bar are cocoa solids, fats like cocoa butter and sugar, although some brands have a list of ingredients as long as your arm.

Are there any health benefits to chocolate?

While I’m not advocating chocolate as a health food, it does contain a number of nutrients, including B vitamins, magnesium and potassium. However, it’s the discovery of antioxidants in chocolate which has excited many people. Cocoa beans contain flavonoid antioxidants called polyphenols. These have been linked to lowering blood pressure and to a reduced risk of heart attack.

Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine, which in the human brain acts as a neurotransmitter and makes you feel good. There have been suggestions this is why we like chocolate so much, although it’s debatable.

The bottom line

It’s the cocoa solids that contain all the antioxidants, so the more cocoa in your chocolate the better. This means it’s the dark, high cocoa solids chocolate that is the “healthiest”. Aim for at least 70% and you can even buy bars with 85% and 99% cocoa solids.

The problem with chocolate is that, as well as all the beautiful antioxidants, it’s also high in sugar and fat. Eating even a small bar can significantly add to your daily kilojoule intake. It’s therefore best to limit your chocolate intake. Buy really good quality chocolate and steer clear of the cheaper rubbish. High cocoa solid chocolate has a rich and complex flavour. Rather than biting into it and chewing away, let the chocolate melt in your mouth to fully savour the taste.

If I’m having chocolate I’ll often make up a little tasting plate of a few pieces of good quality chocolate, coupled with some fresh mango or beautiful berries. It still feels like a treat, but is much better for me than a large bar of Cadbury’s.

What’s Q & A Thursday

This post is part of Q & A Thursday – a weekly burst of blogging, where you get to dictate the subject matter. Q & A Thursday is all about simple, practical and sensible answers to food, diet and health dilemmas sent in by readers. If you have a question you’d like answered, then either leave a comment or send me an email.

30 August, 2007