Heart Healthy Chocolate Contains Beneficial Antioxidants
Author: SabrinaLowder Total views: 3 Word Count: 427
Chocolate tastes great, but new research shows certain kinds may be heart-healthy, as well. Studies in prestigious scientific journals say dark chocolate is healthy chocolate. Dark chocolate -- not white chocolate or milk chocolate -- is good for you.
When healthy and high-quality natural ingredients are used, it is possible to make a truly "healthy chocolate" from naturally-grown, unprocessed, unroasted, raw cocoa/cacao beans that has little loss of the natural nutrients and lots of antioxidants.
Because chocolate gets its origin from plants, it contains several of the health benefits found in dark vegetables. Among these benefits are antioxidants (which are known for possibly reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease) and minerals like copper, magnesium, iron , phosphorus, and calcium.
To produce a true "healthy chocolate", unprocessed raw cacao beans or cocoa powder must be used, which are untreated with alkalis (Dutch chocolate processing). Of all the natural foods, raw cacao contains the highest antioxidant concentration. Acai berries have the second highest content. Cacao in its raw form is beneficial in protecting the brain, liver and heart.
One of the heart health benefits of dark chocolate is Lower Blood Pressure. Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Cocoa is rich in flavonoids, which are chemicals derived from antioxidant-rich plants, and have a wide variety of nutritional benefits.
Healthy chocolate also contains benefits apart from protecting your heart: it tastes good and stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure. It contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant.
In the magazine Chemistry & Industry, Marina Murphy reports that the compound epicatechin, found in unprocessed cocoa, may rival penicilin and anaesthesia in importance as far as public health is concerned. The pharmaceutical industry would likely declare a product with a patent a "miracle drug" if it contained all the health benefits of raw unprocessed cocoa.
Here is another important fact to remember when choosing a "healthy chocolate". The term "healthy chocolate" only applies to chocolate made from cocoa beans which have not been subjected to high heat by roasting, treated with alkalis or other chemicals, and adulterated with various additives like hydrogenated oils, animal fats like lard, corn syrup, refined sugar, dairy products, and chemical preservatives. Eating healthy chocolate, with its super-high ORAC value, can be an efficient and enjoyable way to boost your daily dose of antioxidants, reduce the ravages of free radicals and protect your heart.
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