Discovering Superfood Chocolate: How to Balance Health and Budget When Shopping

Chocolate lovers rejoice! It turns out that your favorite sweet treat could actually be a superfood, according to health expert Sunna Van Kampen. In a new series on finding healthy options at the supermarket for the best value, Sunna is debunking the myth that chocolate is unhealthy – it’s the added sugar that’s the problem.

Sunna explains that before sugar and dairy are added, chocolate is made from cacao, a superfood that is packed with antioxidants. In fact, raw cacao has more antioxidants than well-known superfoods like blueberries and acai berries. And the best part? Chocolate is much more affordable than expensive greens powders, coming in at just £27.50/kg in supermarkets.

But not all chocolate is created equal. Sunna recommends opting for dark chocolate with a high proportion of cocoa solids to lower the sugar content. Milk chocolate, for example, contains only 25% cocoa solids and a whopping 54g of sugar per 100g, whereas 90% dark chocolate has 90% cocoa solids and just 7g of sugar per 100g.

Making the switch from milk chocolate to 70% dark or higher might take some getting used to, but Sunna insists that it’s worth it. By retraining your taste buds over 10 days, you can significantly reduce your sugar intake and increase your antioxidant consumption. Plus, you’ll save yourself from consuming unnecessary sugar while still enjoying a sweet treat.

So next time you’re craving chocolate, reach for the dark stuff and reap the benefits of a superfood without breaking the bank. Your taste buds and your health will thank you.