The nutritionist gives chocolate lovers five tips to celebrate the date without a heavy conscience
It’s pretty hard to find someone who doesn’t like chocolate. After all, few things are as tasty as it is. The food is so loved that it has earned a date of its own: July 7th.
Its caloric value is high. Therefore, the ideal is to consume it carefully. Despite this, its consumption shouldn’t be a problem. “The secret is to look for products with better nutritional quality,” says Renata Guirau, nutritionist at Oba Hortifruti. She gives five tips on how to choose chocolate and eat guilt-free:
- The more cocoa, the better. Really healthy conventional chocolate options have at least 85% cocoa.
- The less sugar, the better. Nowadays there are several options sweetened with stevia, coconut sugar, or just plain sugar-free.
- The purer the better. Avoid added chocolates from cookies and sweets. This usually ensures better nutritional content.
- The fewer components, the better. A list with fewer ingredients means that the chocolate has more quality.
- The tastier, the better. Chocolate is a food that refers to pleasure and can be consumed without guilt, as long as the quantity is not exaggerated.
benefits of chocolate
The consumption of chocolate, observes Renata, generally represents a moment of relaxation. “Chocolate is a comfort food for many people, but, in practice, it pays to follow common sense and be careful about the quality and quantity ingested. Even knowing the differences between the types of chocolate, it is possible to consume our favorite, as long as it is done responsibly”, warns the specialist.
And it’s proven. Not only pleasure provides chocolate. Studies on the effects of cocoa on the body show that the flavonoids present in the fruit have an antioxidant action and help reduce inflammation markers. This means that some risk factors for cardiovascular disease can be minimized by consuming this food. “Versions over 85 percent cocoa have a low amount of sugar and a high amount of the fruit and its antioxidant compounds,” recalls Renata.
How to eat healthy
The nutritionist recommends consuming the food as a dessert, after meals such as lunch and dinner, which contain more fiber and protein. “This helps reduce the glycemic load, which is higher when we eat sugar, and can promote less glycemic swings,” he explains.
For those who love chocolates paired with wines, the expert recommends consuming savory foods at the beginning of the meal and ending with pairing the drink with dessert.
Another suggestion is to use chocolate to prepare recipes rich in antioxidants and less calories, such as fruit syrups, natural ice cream toppings and even eat it as a fondue accompanied by fruit to balance calorie intake, says the nutritionist.
“In this way the preparations still have the taste of chocolate, they help you not to eat excessive quantities of it, since they help with satiety, and still provide various nutrients that the body needs,” he says.
In addition to bittersweet, semisweet and milk chocolates, those with coconut derivatives and ruby, which has 47% cocoa and the intense fruity natural almond flavor of the fruit, are excellent options and can be used in the preparation of recipes that the nutritionist teaches .
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
