Better than coffee: Natural drink that energizes and reduces stress

Magnesium dose

Magnesium is a mineral involved in hundreds of chemical reactions in the human body, from regulating blood pressure and blood sugar to supporting muscle and nerve function. However, most people do not get enough.

Replacing coffee with hot chocolate provides a moderate amount of magnesium and can help meet your daily needs.

Compared to coffee, hot chocolate is a much better source of magnesium:

• One cup of black coffee – 7 mg of magnesium

• One cup of hot chocolate – 58 mg of magnesium

For comparison, a cup of coffee provides only 2% of the recommended daily magnesium intake for an adult, while a cup of hot chocolate provides 18%.

Energy boost

According to the journal Psychopharmacology, hot chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine (found in cocoa beans). Like caffeine, theobromine is a stimulant that provides energy and improves mental focus and memory.

Compared to caffeine, theobromine:

• Has milder side effects

• Does not cross the blood-brain barrier as effectively, leading to less nervous system stimulation

• Is metabolized more slowly, producing a gentler stimulating effect

Reduced anxiety

Drinking hot chocolate instead of coffee may help reduce feelings of anxiety and nervousness, as it contains far less caffeine than coffee:

• One cup of black coffee – 95 mg of caffeine

• One cup of homemade hot chocolate – 5 mg of caffeine

Caffeine in coffee can cause unwanted side effects such as anxiety, nausea, and a racing heartbeat.

Drawbacks to consider

Drinking hot chocolate every morning has some downsides, including:

• High in calories – Hot chocolate generally contains more calories than coffee, as well as sugar and fat, which can contribute to weight gain

• Blood sugar spikes – Hot chocolate may raise blood sugar levels more than coffee

These effects depend on how the drink is prepared. Adding syrups, sugar, or cream to coffee can make it even higher in calories than hot chocolate.

Making homemade hot chocolate allows you to control the ingredients. It is advisable to limit the amount of added sugar in your morning drink.

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.