Schokoholics watch out: In cocoa is a lot of vitamin D! This is now proven by a recent study. What this means for health and chocolate fans
When the days get shorter and colder in the fall, people are only too happy to sweeten their afternoon at home with a hot chocolate. The next cocoa also tastes twice as good, because the latest study results show: Cocoa and cocoa-containing products provide plenty of vitamin D! Nutritionists at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU). The Max Rubner Institute analyzed various cocoa products and powders with the help of modern research instruments – with an astonishing result.
The study proves that products containing cocoa are a super source of vitamin D2! However, the content varies greatly from food to food, explains the research group in a press release. They were able to detect a particularly high amount in dark chocolate, while less was present in white chocolate (to the study).
For nutritionist Prof. Dr. Gabriele Stangl of the MLU not surprisingly: "That is because the cocoa content in white chocolate is clearly smaller. This confirms our amption that cocoa is the source of vitamin D2."
What does this mean for chocolate lovers?
The fact that cocoa is a super source of vitamin D does not mean, however, that chocolate lovers should now gorge themselves on it: "You would have to eat a lot of chocolate to meet your vitamin D2 requirements. This would be extremely "unhealthy" due to the high sugar and fat content, judges Stangl.
Also the refining with cream, marshmallow& Co. makes the calorie balance skyrocket so that the health-promoting ingredients of cocoa are pushed far into the background. Many people in Germany suffer in the dark autumns-. winter months from a vitamin D deficiency. The consequences are brittle bones (osteoporosis), an increased risk of respiratory diseases and colds, and depression.
Vitamin D is of great importance to the body and exists in two varieties: Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3. The latter is formed in the human skin itself with the help of sun radiation. To meet vitamin D needs, ten to 30 minutes in the sun is recommended. At the same time, UV radiation must directly hit bare skin – arms. face suffice (to the DGE reference values for Vitamin D).
Vitamin D2, on the other hand, is absorbed through food. For example, herring, salmon, avocado, mushrooms and newly added – cocoa are considered rich in vitamin D. However, the vitamin D requirement cannot be covered exclusively by nutrition. But can help to reach the recommended level. Cocoa is rich in protein. Contains lots of satiating fiber. It also has a slightly stimulating effect due to its content of theobromine, theophylline and also some caffeine. Pure cocoa powder also contains minerals such as magnesium and potassium, as well as valuable antioxidants that protect our cells from harmful free radicals and premature aging.