Sunna Van Kampen, founder of Tonic Health, is on a mission to help people find healthier options in the supermarket without breaking the bank. In a new series, Sunna is tackling the challenge of balancing eating well with spending wisely by highlighting superfoods that offer great nutritional value for a low cost.
In this installment of the series, Sunna is focusing on chocolate – a surprising superfood in his view. According to Sunna, before sugar and dairy are added, chocolate is actually a superfood due to its high concentration of antioxidants. Cacao, the main ingredient in chocolate, has more antioxidants than well-known superfoods like blueberries, acai berries, and cranberries.
Sunna’s guide to buying chocolate emphasizes choosing varieties with a high proportion of cocoa solids to reduce the sugar content. He recommends opting for dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids to reap the benefits of its superfood status. By making the switch from milk chocolate to dark chocolate, consumers can significantly reduce their sugar intake and increase their antioxidant consumption.
Sunna suggests starting with lower percentages of dark chocolate and gradually working up to higher percentages to retrain your taste buds. By consuming a couple of pieces of dark chocolate each night, consumers can enjoy the health benefits of superfood chocolate for just £5.50 a week.
Making small changes in your chocolate consumption can lead to significant sugar savings and increased antioxidant intake. Sunna estimates that switching to 70% dark chocolate can save you 2.6kg of sugar a year, while transitioning to 90% dark chocolate can save you over 4.8kg of sugar annually.
By following Sunna’s advice and making mindful choices in the chocolate aisle, consumers can enjoy the indulgence of chocolate while reaping the health benefits of a superfood. So next time you’re craving a sweet treat, consider reaching for a bar of dark chocolate to satisfy your taste buds and nourish your body.