Tips for choosing the best dark chocolate and getting the most health benefits.
- Watch the cocoa percentage. The percentage can vary from 60% and higher. The higher the cocoa content the better the health benefits. If you are looking to get a higher value of flavonoids from chocolate choose dark chocolate with the highest cocoa percent.
- Watch for hidden ingredients. Dark chocolate is naturally bitter and has a lot of added sugar in it. For the best health benefits choose minimally added sugar and avoid oils and artificial flavorings.
- Avoid dark chocolate that has been alkali processed. Processing with alkali (dutching) can lower the beneficial health benefits.
- Don’t eat chocolate with milk. Milk can bind to the antioxidants from dark chocolate, skip the milk to get the most benefits.