100 calories of chocolate :: Healthy eating

Chocolate selection - How to enjoy chocolate healthily - healthy eating - diet & wellbeing - allaboutyou.com

With recent research suggesting chocolate may actually be good for us, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was OK to unleash your inner chocoholic. Indeed, last summer University of Cambridge scientists found chocolate lovers were 37 per cent less likely to suffer with cardiovascular disease and 29 per cent less likely to have a stroke, compared with those who ate little.

It’s just one of many studies to show a health benefit, with Harvard University publishing research revealing that cocoa and cocoa products lowered ‘bad’ or LDL cholesterol, increased ‘good’ or HDL cholesterol, reduced blood pressure and improved sensitivity to insulin, which helps to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. These health benefits are probably due to flavonoids in cocoa, which act as powerful antioxidants, similar to those found in tea and red wine. The high fat content of chocolate doesn’t seem to offset the impact of these healthy flavonoids, either. Around a third of the fat is oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat typically found in olive oil. And while the remaining fat is saturated, one of the main saturates – stearic acid – doesn’t appear to raise LDL cholesterol.

It’s not just our heart that benefits. In a German study, women who consumed a cocoa drink every day for 12 weeks noticed their skin was smoother and better hydrated, and tests showed it was less susceptible to ultra-violet damage.

Chocolate is also thought to increase neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin, which helps regulate mood and sleep. Indeed, researchers from University of Hull have found that 45g of dark chocolate each day (one small bar) for two months eased chronic fatigue syndrome. To maximise the benefits, opt for chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa solids, such as Green & Black’s 85% Dark Chocolate (£2.06 per 100g bar, available nationwide).

But there’s no getting away from it – chocolate is high in calories, fat and sugar. As a result, experts agree you should enjoy it in moderation, for example, around 100 calories worth.