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Chocolate -- with remarkable health benefits
Researchers are exploring ways to make chocolate healthier by incorporating prebiotics and probiotics. A recent study in ACS Food Science & Technology examined how adding these beneficial ingredients, along with natural flavorings, affects chocolate’s properties.
Probiotics, found in foods like yogurt and kimchi, support gut health, while prebiotics help nourish them. To simplify processing, researchers tested corn and honey as prebiotic sources in probiotic-fortified chocolate. They developed five samples: a basic chocolate and four synbiotic varieties containing different probiotic strains, prebiotics, and flavor additives (cinnamon or orange).
Key findings include:
- Orange flavoring increased moisture and protein levels while lowering pH.
- Synbiotic chocolates had higher antioxidant levels but less "snap" than the control.
- Probiotics remained viable for 125 days and withstood simulated digestion for over five hours.
The study suggests synbiotic chocolate could be a delicious way to support gut health. The researchers also taste-tested their creations.
31-03-2025