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CHOCOLATE FOR YOUR HEALTH
We've gathered some amazing information about the health benefits of dark chocolate, one of our favorite foods, but first a word about our chocolate…
WHY WE MAKE THE HEALTHIEST CHOCOLATE
Our chocolate is not candy. Much of the commercial chocolate around today contains high amounts of fat, sugar and additives with low amounts of cocoa solids. All of the latest medical research, as well as more ancient traditions, holds that chocolate in its purest and darkest form is a significantly beneficial health food. For the most benefits, chocolate must have a cocoa solids content in the 70% range. All our dark chocolate is made from processed block chocolate in the 65%-73% range, and comes from the finest producers in France, Switzerland and Venezuela. It must also be made with pure cocoa butter rather than fats such as coconut and palm oil. We meet this requirement too, using chocolate with a very high cocoa butter range. Another factor in healthy chocolates are natural compounds called flavonoids that have been shown to prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (beneficial) cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. Flavonoids may also prevent certain cancers. They are directly related to pigment, so the darker chocolates contain more. All of this confirms that the tastiest chocolate is the most beneficial for your health…
NUT ALLERGIES?
Disclaimer: People with nut-based sensitivities should consider not eating our chocolates, as they are produced in a kitchen where nut products are used and nut traces may be present. We only use hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, walnut and pistachios in our product.
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WHY CHOCOLATE IS HEALTHY FOR YOU
Recent research confirms what the Gods already knew - chocolate is one of the more perfect foods consumed by man:
High in Food Value
Contains Essential Vitamins and Minerals
High in Antioxidants
Good for Cholesterol
Good for Cardiac Health
Chocolate as a Mild Stimulant
Chocolate as a Mood Enhancer
The Nutrition Information for 1 oz (28.35g) Dark Chocolate is as follows:
Calories - 136
Protein - 1.19g
Total Fat - 8.51g
Calcium - 9mg
Magnesium - 33mg
Phosphorus - 37mg
Potassium - 103mg
Caffeine - 18mg
Chocolate contains essential trace elements and nutrients such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and the vitamins A. B1, C, D, and E. Cocoa is the highest natural source of Magnesium. A diet high in this mineral protects against the symptoms of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, joint problems and pre-menstrual tension. The drop in progesterone levels is mainly responsible for the mood swings associated with PMS. This drop in progesterone is significantly lessened by boosting magnesium in one's diet.
Chocolate contains the flavonoids procyanidins & epicatechins. Flavonoids are part of a group of antioxidants known as polyphenols and are found naturally in foods such as tea, red wine, fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants are believed to neutralize or delay the processes that age to the body's cells and tissues. They attack the free radicals in our bloodstream, chemicals that cause damage to our cells, especially through oxidization. Think of cut fruit and how it turns brown when exposed to air - and the slowing down of this process when the fruit is coated with the antioxidant in citric acid (lemon juice).It should be noted that milk binds to antioxidants, inhibiting their absorption. Therefore, milk chocolate is not an antioxidant source (it is also higher in fat and calories). Also avoid drinking milk with dark chocolate to get the full benefits of antioxidants.
Chocolate may also have a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels. It consists mainly of stearic acid, a neutral saturated fat that doesn't raise your bad cholesterol (LDL). The cocoa butter contains oleic, a mono-unsaturated fat like the kind found in olive oil, which may even raise good cholesterol (HDL) levels.
Recent research shows that the flavonoids in chocolate and cocoa actually encourage vascular wall improvement and the function of blood vessels. A Mayo Clinic report suggests that moderate amounts of dark chocolate may be used to reduce the risk of blood clots and platelet formation in the arteries that can lead to stroke - similar to low-dose aspirin.
Cacao contains a number of natural stimulants, such as caffeine and theobromine, in small amounts that are diluted when processed into chocolate. Chocolate can't really give you a strong, physical effect as some people claim, that's probably a response to sugar. However there is evidence that drinking a cup of hot chocolate before a meal may diminish appetite. There is also evidence, from researchers at Imperial College London, that theobromine is nearly a third more effective in suppressing persistent coughs than codeine - currently considered the best cough medicine. It works by suppressing vagus nerve activity in the upper respiratory tract. Chocolate obviously has none of the side effects of codeine, such as drowsiness.
Contrary to myth, chocolate is not an aphrodisiac, but does contain small amounts of a chemical called phenylethylamine (PEA) that is a mild mood elevator. This is the happy chemical our brain naturally produces in response to elevated emotions like feelings of joy and love. Chocolate has also been shown to boost the neurotransmitter serotonin - our brains own antidepressant - as well as endorphin levels in the brain. Endorphins are what flood the brain during times of peak physical exertion, creating a sensation of permeating bliss, sometimes called "runners high". While all of the research presented here is interpretable to some degree, it adds up to a compelling case for releasing any guilt you might harbor when you pick up that next decadent looking and tasting bonbon! The history of this amazing food is chock full of mystical and medicinal attributes. With over 300 natural chemicals in cocoa beans, we're only beginning to understand why.
RESOURCES
Please visit CocoaPro, an excellent resource for the information provided on this page.
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