Minerals in chocolate

Cocoa and chocolate contain a number of minerals. Cocoa has the potential to provide significant amount of minerals in the human diet, in particular copper, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium and zinc.

Potassium, magnesium and calcium are the most abundant minerals in cocoa powder. The mineral content of the cocoa is dependent on the soil condition in which the cacao is grown.

Cocoa and cocoa products contain relatively higher amounts of magnesium compared to black tea, red wine, and apples. Magnesium is involved in catalyzing multitude biological reactions, including protein synthesis, transmission of nerve impulse, muscle relaxation, energy production and bone and teeth adsorption.

The final concentrations of minerals in chocolate products are dependent on the amount of non-fat cocoa solids, the amount of cocoa butter and the presence of other ingredients including milk and nuts which can enhance the levels of certain minerals.

A 100 g bar of plain chocolate is able to supply 24% of the copper needed in a healthy diet, whilst milk and white chocolate are a relatively good source of calcium, which is widely regarded as being beneficial in maintaining strong bones.

Dark chocolate typically has higher amounts of minerals than milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is plentiful in magnesium, important for brain functioning. It also boast other nutrients, such as copper, iron, manganese and zinc.
Minerals in chocolate

What nutrients are in dark chocolate?

Many studies show that beneficial nutrients can be found in dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is made up of cocoa solids and sugar but no milk solids (prevalent in milk chocolate) and white chocolate, although referred to as chocolate had no cocoa solids, but instead is made of cocoa butter (the fat in chocolate), milk solids and sugar.

One of the nutrients in dark chocolate is called a polyphenol. Polyphenols are apart of a large family of natural compounds found in a wide variety of plant foods. They are helpful in assisting the human body protect itself from free radicals that cause oxidation.

Researchers believe that the benefits of dark chocolate are because of the flavonoids it contains, which are associated with the ability to lower the risk of heart disease and some cancers.

The heart may be vulnerable to damage by oxidation and flavonoids of dark chocolate hold potential for positive heart health effects.

Dark chocolate contains small amounts of B-complex vitamins (thiamin, or B1; riboflavin, or B2; niacin; vitamin B6’ and folate), needed for releasing energy and creating the body’s building blocks. Bone-enhancing vitamin D and antioxidant E are found in dark chocolate, which are important nutrients, too.

According to some studies done in Italy, dark chocolate has many of the same benefits as vitamin C helping the body use insulin more effectively and lower blood pressure. According to the study, participants who enjoyed 100 grams of dark chocolate daily for 15 days had reduced blood pressure and become more sensitive to insulin than they were prior to the "experiment".

Dark chocolate is plentiful in magnesium, important for brain functioning. It also boasts other nutrients, such as copper, iron, manganese and zinc.
What nutrients are in dark chocolate?