Director of the Department of Cardiology at Mount Sinai Hospital in the United States. Deepak Bhatt said that cocoa powder is an important component of chocolate and is good for the heart and blood vessels. But chocolate itself contains a lot of sugar and calories. In this respect reports Medical Xpress.
According to the cardiologist, many people want to think that eating chocolate is beneficial to the body. Cocoa beans contain fiber and natural compounds with antioxidant properties called phytonutrients. Fiber is good for the digestive system, and antioxidants may help the body resist heart disease.
However, during chocolate production, other ingredients such as sugar, milk and oil are added to bitter ground cocoa beans. This changes the nutritional value of the finished product – it becomes too high in carbohydrates and calories. Thus, potential cardiovascular benefits are ignored.
The doctor added that one should not give up chocolate completely. Sometimes this will be good for your mental health. It is important to choose the right portion size to prevent excessive weight gain. Nutritionists in the United States and Canada recommend consuming no more than one to two ounces (about 28-57 grams) of this product per day. It is also noted that you should choose dark chocolate with a lot of cocoa powder – it contains less sugar.
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