The endocrinologist compared milk and bitter chocolate

On Friday, July 10, Natalia Kovaleva, an endocrinologist and nutritionist at Ecofamily Clinic, compared bitter and milk chocolate in terms of health.

She suggested in a conversation with the Health Mail to look at chocolate through the prism of the glycemic index (GI) and the insulin response. So, the GI of dark chocolate ranges from 25-35 units, and the GI of milk chocolate reaches 45-60 units.

According to the expert, it's the added sugar, as well as the presence of powdered milk, which changes the structure of the fat emulsion. The high content of cocoa butter and dietary fiber in dark chocolate physically slows down gastric emptying.

Kovaleva added that cocoa polyphenols inhibit the activity of intestinal enzymes that break down starches to glucose. As a result, bitter chocolate is digested more slowly, and glucose enters the bloodstream in small portions and smoothly. Therefore, the pancreas reacts with a metered release of insulin.

At the same time, sugar and milk protein in milk chocolate provoke a sharp insulin spike.

The endocrinologist noted that if you want sweets, but you have metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance or excess weight, you should choose only dark chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 70%.

She reminded me that chocolate should not be perceived as a snack: it is a dessert. It should be eaten only after the main meal, which contains protein and fiber to slow down absorption.

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In turn, gastroenterologist Evgeny Belousov told how to choose the most healthy chocolate. According to the expert, the key criterion is the cocoa and sugar content in the product. 360.ru .

Previously, scientists found that the smell of dark chocolate with a high cocoa content can reduce hunger and help you perform more repetitions during strength training.

The experiment involved 23 healthy men aged about 20 years who had a moderate level of physical fitness. Before training, they did not eat for at least 10 hours, after which they performed leg extensions on the simulator. The participants were divided into three groups: one was given the smell of dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 90%, the other was given milk chocolate with a cocoa content of 60%, and the third was given an odorless water sample.

Mandatory labeling of chocolate products, dragees, caramels and chewing gums has been introduced in Russia since July 1, the Moscow City News Agency reports.

As noted, the introduction of mandatory labeling of products will ensure the guarantee of authenticity, the elimination of illegal, counterfeit, unsafe products from circulation, the prevention of questionable goods for purchase, the targeted identification of unscrupulous participants in the turnover and prompt response to violations.