Is Cocoa Puffs Healthy or Not? Health Benefits and Drawbacks

Cocoa puffs are among the delicious chocolate cereal list. You can make a delicious and quick breakfast by adding the Cocoa Puff. Our common concept of cereals in breakfast is not so good. Due to the quick filling option, you might be considering adding it to your breakfast.

These days more and more people are looking for healthy food alternatives for their breakfast. And among the cereal lover, the most frequently asked question is; are Cocoa Puffs healthy? Let’s dig into the article to know the detailed answer.

Nutrition Facts

Cocoa Puffs have a lot of nutritional value in them. It has minerals, vitamins, and carbohydrates for instant energy. It has fiber that makes you feel full for more extended periods and improves your digestion.

As Cocoa Puffs are made with Cocoa, the similar thing used in the chocolate bars makes them heavy in sugar. It has some healthy ingredients like peas and vegetables, but they also have lots of added sugar.

It is heavy in carbs and sugar, which should be avoided in breakfast. If we prevent the nutrition facts, Cocoa Puffs are delicious and worth eating sometimes.

*Nutrition Value per 30 g*
Nutrition	Value
Amounts per serving	130 calories
Trans fat	0
Total fat	0
Saturated fat	0
Sodium	25mg
Potassium	170mg
Cholesterol	0mg
Total carbohydrates	28g
Sugar	14 grams

What is the Taste of Cocoa Puffs?

Cocoa puffs are chocolate flavor corn puffs. It mainly has dark Cocoa in them that gives an outstanding balance between sweetness and slight bitterness. Adding Cocoa Puffs to the milk tastes similar to the stored chocolate milk. Therefore not only for breakfast, but people also enjoy it as a snack with and even without milk.

The best part is the wide variety of Cocoa Puffs in the market. You can have one according to your preference. Besides the prominent flavor, other flavors include brownie scoop Cocoa Puffs and Ice-cream scoops cocoa puffs. However, some verified customers in the reviews claim that the original taste has deteriorated after releasing the new flavors.

In addition to the flavors, the Cocoa Puffs gas also released some fantastic snack items like cereal bars and Cocoa Puffs popcorn. These snack bar items are becoming famous among all the people who adore this brand.

Ingredients

The cocoa puffs have some healthy ingredients, like Carrots, Cocoa, and Cocoa beans. It has whole grains that are good for health. But the ingredients like cornstarch make it a little unhealthy food as they have a lot of added sugar in it.

It also contains essential vitamins like B12, Niacin, and riboflavin; it doesn’t focus on potassium, calcium, or iron. There are different flavors of Cocoa Puffs that vary from chocolate to strawberries. The Cocoa Puffs ingredients include Whole grain meal: Yellow corn grits, hominy, Yellow corn grits, popcorn.

Cocoa processed with alkali
Sugar

Salt
Calcium carbonate
Sodium Hexametaphosphate

Natural and artificial flavors; Blue 27 lake, Caramel Color, Red 40 lake
Tricalcium phosphate

Are Cocoa Puffs Healthy?

You can’t compare a chocolate box’s nutritional value with a healthy salad bowl. But if we compare the Cocoa Puffs with other available cereals in the market, it is healthy. But what is the actual thing that makes Cocoa Puffs healthy is described below?

Packed with Nutrients

As Cocoa Puffs are made up of whole grains, it has many vital nutrients that our body needs, like vitamin D, vitamin A, iron, and calcium. Besides, whole grains also have fiber that makes you complete for extended periods and aids in maintaining your digestive health.

It makes Cocoa Puffs a good source of antioxidants that protects against several diseases.

Low in added Sugar

Unlike other cereal boxes, some cocoa Puffs with 25 to 75% less added sugar. It’s for people who are conscious about their diet and want to avoid added sugar. Excess sugar can cause many health complications like obesity and related diseases. Therefore if you want to eat cereals, then Cocoa Puffs are probably the best choice.

No Artificial Flavor

Most of the cereal uses dyes to make them look appetizing. According to the manufacturers, Cocoa Puffs are pure and don’t contain any artificial flavoring. The color of the Cocoa Puffs is natural and comes from Cocoa powder. Cocoa is a healthy ingredient with some beneficial properties, like reducing inflammation.

Low in Saturated Fat

Cocoa Puffs have low levels of saturated fat. High saturated fat can result in increasing the cholesterol level in the blood. The excess intake can even result in heart disease and heart stroke. Thus Cocoa Puffs consumption is risk-free from this perspective.

Provides Energy

The presence of carbohydrates in Cocoa Puffs makes it an instant energy-providing breakfast. Cocoa puffs made in milk are an instant energy source and give an excellent start to the day.

The Unhealthy Side of Cocoa Puffs

Eating too many cocoa puffs means having a lot of calories that can result in cholesterol issues, heart complications, and weight gain. Similarly, the Cocoa puff sweetness can result in weight gain. Besides, some essential nutrients like magnesium and potassium have been ignored by manufacturers while making their formulas.

Generally, diabetic people often ask us, “Are Cocoa Puffs healthy for diabetics?” Unfortunately No, The calories in Cocoa Puffs make them unhealthy for those with diabetes. The same answer goes for pregnant women asking, Are Cocoa Puffs healthy during pregnancy? They are not, but if you are craving them, try to eat them in the recommended quantity. The rise in blood sugar levels can be detrimental to the body.

Conclusion

In the USA, Cocoa Puff with milk is the most eaten breakfast. It is delicious and requires a few seconds to make. But the main question is; Are Cocoa Puffs healthy? Compared to other cereals, Cocoa Puffs are healthy, but only when you eat them in moderation.

36 grams, equal to one cup of Cocoa Puff, provides you with all the essential fiber and nutrients you need to start your day. However, if you take the Cocoa Puffs two or more times a day, you will have serious health consequences like obesity, tooth decay, heart issues, diabetes, e.t.c. It’s strongly recommended not to cross the suggested limit and enjoy this delight with fantastic health benefits.

FAQ’s

Are Cocoa Puffs Vegan?

Cocoa puffs are not vegan as their minerals and vitamins are the animal’s derivatives. For example, Vitamin D3 supplements are derived from animal sources. Sheep lanolin is a waxy substance derived from sheep skin and fish oil from fatty fish skin.

Whereas the Cocoa Puffs healthier version is entirely vegan.

Is Cocoa Puffs Gluten-Free?

Cocoa Puffs are not gluten-free as they are made of wheat ingredients and are prepared in a facility where other wheat products are ready. The Cocoa Puffs healthier version is naturally gluten-free because they are made up of quinoa puffs.

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