INDIA'S FIRST PREBIOTIC CHOCOLATE

WHAT IS PREBIOTICS?

Prebiotics are sorts of fiber that feed the friendly bacteria within the gastrointestinal system. Humans are not able to digest these types of fiber, but your good gut bacteria can digest them. These sorts of fiber provide nutrients to the bacteria that support healthy digestion and immune function. Before you leave and buy expensive prebiotic supplements, remember that a lot of foods naturally contain them. Foods that are high in prebiotic fiber include legumes, beans, peas, oats, bananas, garlic, onions, and asparagus.

BENEFIT OF DARK CHOCOLATE

Eating chocolate doesn’t only make you happy; it also helps to keep the beneficial bacteria in your intestines happy and healthy. Cocoa beans are high in a type of antioxidant called polyphenols. Beneficial bacteria in your colon feed on these antioxidants, break them down and the resulting small metabolites get absorbed into your bloodstream, where they have their beneficial effects. The darker the chocolate, the upper the antioxidant content. That means 85 percent or 90 percent cocoa chocolate is best.

Now with the benefit of dark chocolate, a new innovation has been made, called prebiotic chocolate. The mixture of the benefits of prebiotic fiber as well as chocolate.

INDIA'S FIRST PREBIOTIC CHOCOLATE

A children's food and nutrition start-up 'Lil’Goodness', launches India's first "prebiotic" chocolate claims to be gut-friendly. The first of its kind chocolates 'Lil'Goodness' have prebiotic fibers, which activate healthy bacteria within the gut and improve the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals, therefore promoting good health and a greater immunity boost.

The brand helps the oldsters by adding the goodness of healthy ingredients like prebiotics into the fuss-free food for youngsters. This prebiotic chocolate that's developed in India, contains natural prebiotic fibers that stimulate healthy gut bacteria and thus improve gut health.

The brand will soon be launching a bittersweet chocolate variant for those that prefer and love the darker variety. Also, bigger packs in 4 new exciting flavors will soon follow. These probiotic chocolates are going to be the primary of its kind in India and maybe amongst the sole two globally.

The chocolates contain 10% less sugar than regular milk chocolates and 3 times more fiber than regular milk chocolates. The mini packs of the prebiotic chocolates which ensure moderate consumption feature a rate of Rs. 20 to ensure greater accessibility to masses.

Harshavardhan, CEO & co-founder Lil’Goodness, said, "The launch of our prebiotic chocolates, which makes taking care of the gut health simpler. In the current pandemic situation, it's imperative to require both big and little steps to extend immunity and thus, overall well-being. Moreover, the festive season is additionally approaching, therefore we wanted to introduce an option for people to gift ‘goodness’ filled chocolates."

He added, "This product range also gives us scope to require our products globally, with strong scientific backing for the claims which might resonate with a worldwide audience. With the prebiotic chocolates, we would like to assist both children and adults incorporate healthy choices into their lives easily. In these times as a brand, our objective is to market Goodness through tasty, nutritious snack options".

Pariksha Rao, chief nutritionist & co-founder, Lil’Goodness, said, "Our products are an amalgamation of taste and nutrition. With carefully chosen ingredients blended together in kid-friendly flavors, each pack serves essential nutrition comfortably. We help parents choose nutrition in a way that appeals to children. Even adults love our products for the good health-cum-taste combination. We also are performing on snack options using ancient superfood grains which can again appeal to kids and their parents during these times of labor & study from home".

     

Before India, an Australian brand Gutsii spot with its prebiotic chocolate line. Let's have a look over that.

Gutsii chocolate contains no added sugar and no more than six ingredients: cocoa mass, inulin, cocoa butter, and vanilla beans; plus flavor inclusions such as amaranth, Himalayan salt, dried raspberry, peppermint oil, rice & millet crisp.

Founder and CEO of Gutsii, Janine Zappini, had grown up learning about the connection between food and health from her German grandfather who knew the importance of incorporating fermented and no sugar foods into his diet.

"Your gut is the root of all of your health. Most people who want to eat healthily, are either focused on protein or fats,"

When launching Gutsii in its first market of Australia, Zappini saw prebiotic chocolate as a unique offering within the functional foods category because “people love chocolate so much”, but it was off-limits for many individuals that had negative gastrointestinal reactions after consuming it.

“I’ve worked with bars before, and the market is so flooded. For me personally, I’m bored with eating them. And I didn’t want to be another Kombucha-like brand that’s full of sugar,” Zappini said.

    

-Sakshi Verma