cocoa solids content of a chocolate or candy,
the higher its antioxidant content. Any added
sugar, milk products, or cocoa butter simply
dilute the cocoa solids and their phenolics.
The dutching process also reduces the levels
of desirable phenolics in cocoa powder, and
the milk proteins in milk chocolate appear to
bind to the same molecules and prevent us
from absorbing them.
Caffeine and Theobromine Chocolate
contains two related alkaloids, theobromine
and caffeine, in the ratio of about 10 to 1.
Theobromine is a weaker stimulant of the
nervous system than caffeine is (p. 433); its
main effect seems to be a diuretic one.
(However it is quite toxic to dogs, who can
suffer serious poisoning from chocolate
candies.) A 1-oz /30 gm piece of unsweetened
chocolate contains around 30 mg of caffeine,
around a third the dose in a cup of coffee;
sweetened and milk chocolates contain