Chocolate Showdown: Which Is The Best For Your Health?

We’re often led to believe that chocolate is bad for our bodies, however, depending on the type of chocolate you choose to eat, your body could benefit from it.

So which is the best? We take a look at the four types of chocolate — white, milk, ruby and dark — and where the calories can be hiding.

White chocolate is considered to be the ‘worst’ in terms of nutritional value. It’s high in sugar and saturated fat and lacks the health benefits of cocoa solids found in dark chocolate. This is because white chocolate is heavily modified, it contains no cocoa solids, so it is typically mixed with milk powder or condensed milk and flavourings like vanilla to create the “white chocolate taste”. It’s also the most calorie-dense.

Milk chocolate is also rich in sugar and saturated fats. Although it does contain cocoa, the content is much lower than that found in dark chocolate. This means it provides minimal nutritional value in comparison. 

Ruby chocolate is a unique kind of chocolate made from ruby cocoa beans. It has a slightly fruity taste compared to other types of chocolate. Although it provides antioxidants such as flavonoids and anthocyanins, it is more calorie-dense than dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate is your best mate! Dark chocolate contains antioxidants that provide a range of benefits. The tasty treat has been proven to benefit heart health, improve blood flow, lower “bad cholesterol” and lower blood pressure. 

The higher the cocoa content, the better for the body. If you’re looking to incorporate some dark chocolate into your diet, aim to buy those that have a 70% cocoa content or higher. 

Like everything else in life, only in moderation. Although it provides nutritional benefits, the calories can sneak up on you. One serving of dark chocolate with 70% cocoa still climbs above 100 calories.