Hot chocolate, or cocoa, is a sweet and comforting treat that can help satisfy chocolate cravings and warm you up on a cold day. If you have diabetes, you need to be careful about how much and what kind of cocoa you drink to make sure that your blood sugar levels stay under control. Most diabetics can safely enjoy hot chocolate in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet.
Sugar Content of Hot Chocolate and Blood Sugar
A packet of rich hot cocoa mix has 15 to 23 grams of total carbohydrates and 12 to 18 grams of total sugars. In individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, eating sugar can cause uncontrolled blood sugar levels, according to MayoClinic.com. A packet of cocoa mix with no sugar added has 10 to 14 grams of carbohydrates, including less than 2 grams of sugars. Hot chocolate with less sugar is less likely to affect diabetics.
Weight Control and Diabetes
A healthy diet for individuals with diabetes includes achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, according to MayoClinic.com. Eating too many calories leads to weight gain and less control over blood sugar levels. A packet of regular hot cocoa mix has 111 calories, and a packet of low-calorie cocoa mix has 54 to 68 calories. Hot chocolate made with milk, whipping cream, marshmallows or extra sugar is higher in calories and more likely to increase blood sugar levels.
Caffeine and Blood Sugar
The average caffeine content of an 8-ounce cup of hot chocolate is 9 milligrams, with a range of 3 to 13 milligrams, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. In comparison, a cup of generic regular coffee has between 27 and 173 milligrams of caffeine, and decaffeinated coffee has 4 to 5 milligrams. Most caffeinated soft drinks have 35 to 71 milligrams of caffeine in a 12-ounce can. Since too much caffeine can raise your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes, MayoClinic.com recommends keeping your total daily caffeine intake to 250 milligrams.
Flavonoids and Heart Health
Cocoa is a natural source of flavonoids called flavanols, according to the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center. People with type 2 diabetes who drink flavanol-rich cocoa may have a lower risk for heart disease because of better endothelial function, or less rigid blood vessels. Proanthocyanidins are the specific group of flavanols in cocoa. Apples, berries, red grapes and wine also provide proanthocyanidins. Hot chocolate made with real cocoa has a higher flavanol content than hot cocoa mix made with sugar and chocolate flavoring.
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