Almond chocolate is delicious, no doubt. But is it good for your diet? What is good can get even better. The saying is proven by science: dark chocolate combined with almonds protects the heart.
This nut can be found in two forms: the sweet, more versatile and widely used, and the bitter one with a strong flavor.
It is made up of 50% fiber and unsaturated fat, most of which are monounsaturated, which, combined with a balanced diet, may help control LDL cholesterol levels, the so-called “bad cholesterol”.
Twenty percent of its composition is protein. It is also rich in potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, vitamin B1 and vitamin E.
It is a very versatile food, and can be consumed as small snacks, in salads, soups, yogurts, in the preparation of sauces and even in desserts and cakes.
Its components bring benefits to the body. Potassium regulates blood pressure, the balance of body fluids, and muscle contraction. Phosphorus participates in the construction of bones and teeth, being a component of all cells in the body and products of metabolism.
Magnesium, participates in neuromuscular transmission, and zinc is important for immune and reproductive function. Vitamin B1 helps in the metabolism of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids, and vitamin E prevents oxidation, protects the integrity of various cellular components and helps to prevent cardiovascular problems.
A serving of 10 almonds contains 93Kcal of energy, 3.25g of protein, 1.1g of carbohydrates, 1.8g of fiber, and 8.4g of fat.
Cocoa, in turn, is the major component, originating from the cocoa beans found in the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao L.).
Cocoa is responsible for the antioxidant properties of this food, presenting health benefits when consumed in a moderated way.
Recent studies show the benefits of this food in preventing cardiovascular disease and reducing the risk of cancer.
Cocoa beans have physiologically active compounds found in plants called flavonoids that have antioxidant properties that are believed to contribute to cellular resistance against damage caused by compounds harmful to the body, as free radicals.
Chocoholics on duty, here’s the good news: eating the delicacy in moderation and associated with oilseeds helps keep your heart to be health. A study published in a journal showed that the combination of dark bars and these nuts may help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
This combination significantly reduced the number of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), the so-called bad cholesterol. To obtain the results, the researchers analyzed 31 people, aged between 30 and 70 years.
For a month, no one ate any of the study foods. In the second month, they ingested 42.5g of nuts. In the following period, they ate 43g of the bitter cocoa bar. In the fourth and last month, they combined the two foods.
Nuts alone reduced LDL by 7% compared to the period when none of the foods was eaten. The combination also showed a small reduction in bad cholesterol.
It is noteworthy that oilseeds should be included in a healthy diet, while cocoa had a timid participation in improving health.
Cocoa did not raise cholesterol levels and did not lower them either. However, the secret of success is in the quantities.
The message is that people shouldn’t go eating lots of it with these nuts to lower LDL.
Cocoa has even been linked to decreased insulin resistance, stimulation of mental activity and mood modulation.
Although there is no scientific evidence that this product per se is associated with overweight, it should be consumed in moderation, as part of a varied and balanced diet.
Did you know that the higher the cocoa content of this food, the greater its antioxidant power? For this reason, preference should be given to versions with more cocoa and less of other ingredients.
Just imagine the combination of two such powerful foods?
Another recent study also say that eating dark chocolates and almonds is good for the heart. An American survey invited people to include these two ingredients in their diet, while part of the participants included only dark bars in their diet.
Obese and overweight adults who ate both foods showed a reduction in blood lipid fractions that aggravate the accumulation of fat in the artery wall. The blood test of volunteers who ate only dark bars had no change.
Buy your bar with extra cocoa and already accompanied by the oilseed or prefer the nuts covered with dark varieties.
These chestnuts covered with cocoa amplify the flavor and add other ingredients to the plain nut. The ones that add sugar and chocolate represent almost 40 kilocalories per unit while those covered only with the cocoa-based product, despite increasing the caloric value, also increases the intake of nutrients, just consume the right dose for you.
The dark version of the product is packed with beneficial antioxidants, including flavonoids called procyanidins, catechins, and epicatechins (Rao, 2011).
Eating a diet rich in these chestnuts also reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
It is important to understand how much to eat per day. The recommended “dose” is approximately 1-2 oz or 30-60g, experts say. Indulge in anything more than that, and you may be consuming too many calories as well.
Are chocolate almonds keto?
This nut covered in milk choco varieties is not ideal for the diet, so if you are looking for a snack to suit your low carb diet, you should choose the product made with the darkest version possible.
These nuts on their own are low in carbs and pack a powerful nutritional punch. They are an excellent source of vitamin E, magnesium, riboflavin, copper, phosphorus and manganese. They are also particularly high in protein – delivering 6 grams per 1-ounce (28-gram) serving.
When reading the product packaging, you should pay attention to the ingredients. Your perfect snack should be gluten-free and free of artificial ingredients and flavors to ensure the best health benefit.
These nuts can also improve blood cholesterol. A recent study concluded that a nut-supplemented diet may reduce the risk of heart complications in people with a history of heart attack. All nuts are high in calories, so a handful of this wonderful snack is enough.
This nut together with the dark bar can generate the reduction of high blood pressure, so a small portion a day is recommended. This food combination is not only good for the heart and for regulating blood pressure, it can also improve brain function, relieve stress and lower the risk of diabetes.
Remember to be patient in adapting to the taste. If you are used to eating sweet foods, this product may seem very bitter and strong at first, but as you continue to consume it, your taste buds will adapt and you will enjoy this snack in no time.
Other versions of the product that contain added sugar and fat have little nutritional benefit, creating a host of health problems. Therefore, it is important to consider that even if you find the taste more appealing, it is important to consume products with nutritional quality.
Almond chocolate can be just what you are looking for to supplement your diet with a health and powerful snack.
