Are you a fan of dark chocolate and wondering if Brookside dark chocolate is a healthy option? Look no further!
Brookside dark chocolate is a global brand from the 100-year-old Hershey’s company. The chocolates are made from the blend of exotic fruit flavors from around the world. They are primarily available in three flavors: Blueberry & Acai, Pomegranate, and Raspberry & Goji.
While the Brookside dark chocolate has been crafted to provide a unique and delicious taste, is it a healthy choice for you?
Short answer: Brookside dark chocolate it not healthy due to its high sugar content, low macronutrient value and presence of ingredients like maltodextrin and artificial colors.
Keep reading to find out more about Brookside dark chocolate.
Also read: Is Amul Dark Chocolate Good For Health? A Complete Review
Nutrition in Brookside dark chocolate
A 30g serving of Brookside dark chocolate (Blueberry and Acai) has:
- Calories: 120
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Sugar: 18g
- Fat: 5g
- Protein: less than 1g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sodium: 35g
- Iron: 1.4mg
- Potassium: 55mg
Ingredients in Brookside dark chocolate
Brookside dark chocolate contains various ingredients, depending on the flavor. However, some key ingredients include:
- Chocolate
- Cocoa butter
- Cocoa processed with alkali
- Corn syrup
- Milk fat
- Lecithin
- Milk
- Salt
- Sugar
- Maltodextrin
- Fruits pulp
- Sunflower or canola oil
- Stabiliser(1400, 440, 414, 331(iii))
- Artificial colors (102,122,133,132)
- Nature identical flavors
- Glazing agent (904)
4 Reasons Brookside dark chocolate is not healthy
1. High in sugar
Sugar is typically a key ingredient in dark chocolate as it is often added to help balance out the bitterness of the cocoa. However, sometimes, companies add too much sugar to chocolate which becomes risky for your health.
A single 30g serving of Brookside dark chocolate contains 18g sugar, equivalent to about 4 teaspoons of sugar. This is 60% of the daily sugar limit for adults, and for children, it is 75%.
If you consume too much Brookside dark chocolate, especially daily, it can increase the sugar levels in your body and lead to various health issues such as obesity, weight gain, excess fat, diabetes, heart disease, etc.
It would be beneficial if Brookside had used natural sweeteners instead of sugar in its chocolate.
2. Use of artificial colors
Brookside dark chocolate is loaded with a bunch of artificial colors such as tartrazine(102), brilliant blue(133), and carmoisine(122).
While food authorities permit these artificial colors, they have been shown to pose health risks in many studies.
For example, tartrazine has been classified as a possible food carcinogen. It has been linked to allergic reactions, hyperactivity in children, and other behavioral changes[1].
Carmoisine has been found to affect the liver and kidneys adversely and to alter the function of other vital organs[2].
Moreover, artificial colors such as brilliant blue(133) and indigotin (132) also have been linked to inducing allergic reactions and cancers[3].
The addition of these artificial colors makes Brookside dark chocolate a risky and unhealthy choice.
Note: If you are in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, you may not find artificial flavors in Brookside dark chocolate. However, if you are in other countries, you may be able to find artificial colors in Brookside dark chocolate.
3. Not good for diabetics
When it comes to dark chocolate, it is generally considered beneficial for diabetics. This is because dark chocolate helps to improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels.
However, dark chocolate, like Brookside, is loaded with sugar, unhealthy colors, and unhealthy calories, making it a bad choice for people with diabetes.
In addition, it contains maltodextrin, a high glycemic ingredient that can spike blood sugar levels.
So, if you have diabetes, it is better to go with other chocolate brands.
4. Low levels of macronutrients
Macronutrients are nutrients your body needs in large quantities to function properly, such as protein, fiber, fat, and carbs.
Compared to other brands, Brookside dark chocolate has relatively low levels of protein and fiber. It contains less than 1g of protein and only 1g of fiber.
Although it has high carbs, most are simple, which doesn’t do anything good for your health. They’re considered bad for you because they can contribute to weight gain and other health issues.
Final words
Dark chocolate can be a source of beneficial nutrients when consumed in moderation. However, to make it unique, delicious and addictive, chocolate companies add too many unhealthy ingredients.
While Brookside dark chocolate may provide a delicious and unique taste, it cannot be considered healthy due to its high sugar content, low macronutrient level and presence of ingredients like maltodextrin and artificial colors.
However, if you enjoy the taste of Brookside dark chocolate, you can consume it occasionally and in moderation.
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