Amul is a popular Indian dairy brand that produces a wide range of food products, including dark chocolate.
Its dark chocolate comes in a variety of sizes, with many variants containing varying levels of cocoa.
And while dark chocolate is generally considered to be beneficial, is Amul dark chocolate good for your health?
Short answer: Amul dark chocolate is not good for health as it is high in sugar, saturated fat which increases the risk of weight gain and cavities. In addition, it uses artificial flavors that may pose some serious health risks.
Read on to find more about Amul dark chocolate.
Also read: Is Amul Butter Good For Health? 4 Reasons To Limit Its Consumption
Nutrition in Amul dark chocolate
A 100g serving of Amul dark chocolate with 55% cocoa contains:
- Calories: 557
- Carbohydrates: 75.3g
- Sugar: 43g
- Fat: 33.7g
- Protein: 6g
If you opt for the 99% cocoa dark chocolate from Amul, the calories, protein and fat content will increase.
Ingredients in Amul dark chocolate
The key ingredients present in Amul dark chocolate include cocoa solids, cocoa butter, emulsifiers, and artificial flavors. Let’s see each of the ingredients in detail.
Cocoa solids
Cocoa solids are the dark, flavorful parts of the cocoa bean left behind after extracted cocoa butter. The higher the percentage of cocoa solids in a chocolate product, the darker and more intense the flavor will be.
Generally, Amul dark chocolate contains 55% of cocoa solids in it. However, there is another flavor that comes with 99% cocoa.
Cocoa butter
Cocoa butter is the edible fat derived from the cocoa bean. It is found in both milk and dark chocolate and is what gives chocolate its smooth, rich texture.
Emulsifiers
Emulsifiers are additives that help to create a smooth, creamy texture in chocolate. Without emulsifiers, chocolate would be grainy and unpleasant to eat.
The most commonly used emulsifiers in Amul dark chocolate include lecithin (E322) and polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E476).
Artificial flavors
These are flavors that are synthetically made in labs to enhance the taste of the chocolate.
Also read: 6 Reasons Dairy Milk Chocolate Is Not Good For Health
6 Reasons Amul dark chocolate is not good for health
After carefully analyzing the ingredients and nutrition value of the Amul dark chocolate, I have discovered 6 reasons why it might not be good for your health.
1. High level of sugar
The primary reason Amul dark chocolate is bad for your health is its high sugar content.
Generally, it is believed that white chocolate contains more sugar than dark chocolate; however, that is not the case with Amul dark chocolate.
A 100g Amul dark chocolate bar contains 43g of sugar, which equals almost 11 teaspoons of sugar. This amount of sugar is more than present in Amul white chocolate.
According to studies, consuming too much sugar has been linked to many serious conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, weak bones, and tooth decay.
However, if you are worried about sugar, Amul dark chocolate also has a sugar-free option, or you can pick 99% cocoa.
2. High in saturated fat
Amul dark chocolate is high in saturated fat containing about 20g in a 100g serving, which is about 35% more than what is recommended by American Heart Association daily.
Saturated fat is a bad kind of fat, which according to studies, has been linked to an increase in inflammation and cardiovascular disease such as stroke.
Therefore, you must limit your intake of Amul dark chocolate.
3. Not good for weight loss
Amul dark chocolate is not good for weight loss as it is high in calories, containing about 557 per 100g – that’s about 28% of the daily recommended intake.
Those who lead an active lifestyle may not be as affected by the high-calorie content of Amul dark chocolate. However, for sedentary individuals, overindulging in it can result in weight gain.
Additionally, excessive consumption of calorie-dense foods, such as those high in sugar, is linked to diabetes and heart disease.
4. Increased risk of cavities
Amul dark chocolate is high in sugar which is one of the major culprits in tooth decay and cavities.
Aside from cavities, sugar can also result in other dental problems, like gum disease. Sugar fosters the growth of dental plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that clings to teeth. Plaque can inflame gums and make them bleed. If left uncleaned, plaque can solidify into tartar, which is even more challenging to remove.
This is a crucial issue for children as dental caries are more common among young children than other health problems. Therefore, the consumption of Amul dark chocolate(especially the sugary one) must be minimum.
Also read: The Truth About Amul Cheese: Is It Good For Your Health?
5. Not good for diabetes
Generally, dark chocolate is believed to have benefits for those with diabetes, but only when the chocolate is low in sugar or sugar-free and part of a healthy and balanced diet.
Eating Amul dark chocolate – particularly the sugary varieties – are not good for diabetics health as they may cause a spike in blood sugar levels, leading to further complications.
In this case, the best option is to choose the sugar-free variety or 99% cocoa ultimate dark chocolate from Amul. However, it’s still important to limit your intake to minimum.
6. Use of artificial flavors
While there is nothing wrong with enjoying an occasional treat of dark chocolate containing artificial flavors, too much consumption can lead to potential risks.
Amul dark chocolate is flavored with synthetic flavors that have been ready in labs. As per research, consuming artificial food additives has several health risks such as allergic reactions, worsening of asthmatic symptoms, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Not only this but artificial flavors in foods enhance their taste and tricks your brain into eating more and more, which often leads to overeating.
If you are concerned about your health, you may want to look for dark chocolate made only with natural ingredients.
Final words
Amul dark chocolate might be one of the most popular chocolates in the country. However, it is not entirely good for your health due to its high sugar and saturated content and use of artificial flavors.
In addition if you are diabetics or suffering from any other sugar related health issues, it is best to avoid it.
If you still want to eat Amul dark chocolate, you can do so in moderation. Or, you can choose the high cocoa percentage and unsweetened varieties.
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FAQs about Amul dark chocolate
Yes, all the varieties of Amul dark chocolate can be considered as vegan as they don’t contain milk and other animal derivatives.
Amul dark chocolate is made from cocoa solids, which are a great source of magnesium. Magnesium helps relax muscles and ease menstrual cramps, so eating Amul dark chocolate during periods can be a great way to help ease discomfort.
Amul dark chocolate contains cocoa, which in studies have been found to positively affect the cognitive function of the brain. It’s best to go with the chocolate that has high percentage of cocoa.
Amul dark chocolate is good for your skin as it contains antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation and protect your skin from damage. Additionally, it can also help to improve your skin’s moisture levels, making it softer and more supple.
Amul 99% cocoa dark chocolate is one of the bitter but healthiest varieties of dark chocolate as it has more cocoa, protein and zero sugar.
