Since this delicious treat is made mostly of chocolate, it’s no surprise that it’s packed with sugar and calories.
In fact, chocolate eggs can contain more than 2,000 calories, which exceeds the recommended daily intake for your little ones. However, a hidden ingredient at snack could surprise you: caffeine.
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It is important for parents to watch portion sizes and how often they treat their children to Easter chocolates.
It is best to serve the chocolate eggs smaller and less frequently, to avoid sleep problems.
Alhassan said: “It is important to consider the child’s overall diet and any other sources of sugar they may be consuming.
«Some chocolates contain caffeine, so eating too much of it can cause sleep difficulties in children in a way that it wouldn’t for us adults.»
As a general rule, the more caffeine you consume, the more complicated your sleep can be.
However, enjoying your daily cup of joe is an obvious caffeine fix, while chocolate might not be.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, different types of chocolate contain different amounts of caffeine:
- Dark chocolate contains about 12 milligrams of caffeine per 1 ounce.
- Milk chocolate contains around nine milligrams of caffeine per 43 grams
- White chocolate contains zero caffeine.
The reason the delicious treat contains coffee is because of the cocoa solids.
These dry components are produced once the cocoa beans are liquefied.
Why does caffeine affect sleep?
It all comes down to adenosine receptors.
Adenosine is a chemical that promotes the sleep that occurs in the brain during our waking hours.
Normally, adenosine builds up in the brain the longer we are awake. The more it accumulates, the sleepier we become.
inside the brain, caffeine blocks adenosine receptors. When caffeine blocks this process, we remain alert and vigilant.
When it comes to recommended cutting time, caffeine should ideally be avoided six hours before bed.
For example, if you go to bed at 10 pm, then you should avoid the substance after 4 pm to minimize sleeping problems.
To make the best of this time of year, try to buy only the amount of chocolate you needor the amount you want to eat, to avoid going overboard on empty calories.
The moderation It is key, so as not to feel guilty for enjoying these delicacies every time we want to.
There is nothing wrong with eating sweets, as long as we follow a balanced diet and get the right amount of nutrients and vitamins that our bodies need.