Building Great Body Shape

by Sabrina Lowder

New research shows that certain kinds of chocolate may not only taste great but be heart-healthy too.  Prestigious scientific journals have published studies that say dark chocolate is healthy chocolate.  Dark chocolate is good for you — not white chocolate or milk chocolate.

A truly “healthy chocolate” can be made when high-quality raw naturally-grown cocoa or cacao beans are used, unprocessed and unroasted.  This results in preserving the antioxidants and natural nutrients.

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 way that dark chocolate benefits heart health is by reducing blood pressure.  Studies have suggested that individuals can lower their high blood pressure by consuming a small amount of dark chocolate daily.  Antioxidant flavonoids provide this benefit.  Antioxidant rich flavonoids are plant-derived chemicals, which offer several nutritional benefits.

Healthy chocolate does more than protect the heart.  Its pleasant taste is stimulating to endorphin production, giving the consumer a feeling of pleasure.  Because it contains serotonin, healthy chocolate acts as an anti-depressant.

Epicatechin is a compound that can be found in raw cocoa, and has amazing health benefits which rival penicillin and anaesthesia in relation to general public health, reports Marina Murphy in the magazine Chemistry & Industry.  A pharmaceutical product that could offer all the health benefits of raw unprocessed cocoa would likely be touted as a “miracle drug“.

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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