In previous blogs we have discussed the misconception that chocolate is bad for our teeth. The question now becomes what other types of chocolate do or don’t do for our dental health, and why, specifically milk chocolate.
Milk Chocolate
“Milk Chocolate” is chocolate that contains between 25% and 40% cocoa plus powdered milk and sugar. 100 grams of milk chocolate can include anywhere between 180 and 200 mg of calcium. As comparison, one ounce of cheddar cheese has approximately 200 mg of calcium. Our research indicates that a daily recommended usage of calcium ranges between 500 mg (for infants between 1 and 3 years old) to 1,000 mg, for adults over 70 years old. Chocolate also includes antioxidants that are good for our bodies, so a combination of chocolate and milk products should do the trick.
There is the question, however, about sugar. Milk chocolate tends to be much sweeter than regular or dark chocolate, which means that it has a larger degree of sugar in it. Comparing both types of chocolate, we found that one ounce of dark chocolate has 14 grams of sugar, while the same ounce of milk chocolate has 168. As with any other types of foods, and especially those that are sweet, moderation is very important. Our suggestion? Have a treat, but if what you are concerned about is a healthy amount of calcium and few calories, go with dark chocolate.
Interesting fact
Did you know that chocolate has been used for over three thousand years? It was particularly popular with populations in Mexico and Central America as a way of adding flavor to water.