Researchers from the University of Melbourne in Australia said dark chocolate acts as food for beneficial gut bacteria, thus stimulating and supporting the digestive process. Enriching chocolate with probiotics (live bacteria) can increase this positive effect. results published In the Journal of Food Bioscience.
Scientists have revealed that dark chocolate has health benefits. In particular, it can reconstruct bacterial diversity and abundance to normalize intestinal function. The fact is that cocoa, the main component of dark chocolate, acts as a prebiotic. Prebiotics are food ingredients that are not digested or absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract. They are processed by beneficial microflora in the large intestine.
This positive effect can be enhanced by adding probiotics to chocolate, which are live microorganisms that benefit the host when administered in sufficient amounts. In the study, scientists enriched dark chocolate (contains 70% cocoa) and milk chocolate (contains 45% cocoa) with probiotics. It has been shown to support the production of beneficial digestive byproducts, also known as postbiotics.
In addition, chocolate enriched with probiotics supports the synthesis of beneficial fatty acids that regulate appetite and energy homeostasis.
The authors of the study emphasized that regular chocolate produced in a factory can also be beneficial to the body. They recommended choosing dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content and consuming it in moderation.
Previously was named A product that can dissolve tooth tissue.
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Source: Gazeta
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