Craving chocolate? Please note that to benefit from its benefits (and limit its harmful effects) it is preferable to consume a few squares at a very specific time. Explanations.
For breakfast, for dessert, for a snack… The temptation is great to eat chocolate at any time of the day. Except that if temptation arises at any time, you should not eat it at any time, reminds our dietitian-nutritionist, Alexandra Murcier. A particular moment would be more beneficial for our body.
Which chocolate to choose?
It is first necessary to distinguish the different types of chocolates. “The less cocoa a chocolate contains, the more sugar it will be“, recalls the nutrition expert.
Thus, milk chocolate will inevitably be richer in sugar than an 80% dark chocolate bar.
As the government site Bercy infos highlights, significant differences exist between our favorite chocolates:
- Milk chocolate. “It is obtained from cocoa, sugars and milk. It must contain at least 25% premium cocoa solids and 14% milk (lactic products, dehydrated milk, cream, etc.)“.
- White chocolate. “It is obtained from cocoa butter, milk and sugars. It contains at least 20% cocoa butter and 14% milk (lactic products, dehydrated milk, cream, etc.).”
- Dark chocolate. “Unlike other chocolates, the term “dark” is a quality criterion which indicates a higher cocoa content, i.e. at least 43% total cocoa solids, including at least 26% cocoa butter.“
Finally, when the denomination “chocolat” or “milk chocolate” is supplemented by a quality criterion, such as “extra“, “the cocoa content must be higher compared to the compositions in force“, the site further specifies. For example, a milk chocolate must have at least 30% cocoa solids and at least 18% milk, compared to 25% and 14% for a milk chocolate without this mention.
NO to diets, YES to WW!
Chocolate: what time of day is best to consume it?
No more chocolate on your toast or in your morning bowl of cereal, explains Alexandra Murcier.
“For chocolates rich in sugar, I advise avoiding eating them in the morning – because consuming sugar in the morning increases blood sugar levels over the day and exposes you to cravings – and between meals because blood sugar levels also increase more quickly.“, she emphasizes.
It is therefore preferable to consume 2 to 3 squares at the end of the meal, “as a dessert guide”, specifies the expert.
“As for dark chocolate (minimum 75%), as it is less sweet, it can be consumed as a snack, or even in the evening because its richness in magnesium contributes to better sleep. You should also keep in mind that chocolate is a pleasure food and that as part of a balanced diet, it can also be beneficial to eat a square when you feel like it without thinking too much about the timing either. !“, specifies the specialist in conclusion.
Slide: Choosing your chocolate wisely
