Eat More Dark Chocolate for Health

Antaletriangle · 02-21-2009, 02:12 PM

http://www.naturalnews.com/025688.html

Chocolate has been a favorite food of people since it was first discovered. A joke among chocolate lovers is that it is an essential nutrient. But aside from a velvety texture and indescribable taste, is chocolate good for you? Research has shown that raw, dark cocoa is. Chocolate in assorted candies or bars has been processed. It has been fermented and sweetened with unhealthy sugars. It has preservatives and other added chemicals. It isn`t good for you at all, unlike raw, dark, healthy chocolate.

Unlike money, chocolate really does grow on trees. Raw cocoa powder produced directly from the fruit of the cacao tree is a pure substance. It contains no additives and is high in antioxidants. A Cornell University study cites findings that it has two times the antioxidants of red wine. Raw chocolate is high in tryptophan. The human body uses tryptophan to help manufacture serotonin, a biogenic amine or neurotransmitter that prevents depression, so if you`ve heard that chocolate is an anti-depressant, there is some truth to that.

There seems to be a positive link between raw chocolate and cardiovascular health. Early findings demonstrate that risk of blood clots, strokes and heart attacks is lessened in those people who regularly eat raw chocolate. One of the minerals needed for good heart function is magnesium (Mg). It is needed only in trace amounts, but in the majority of heart attack sufferers, the body`s Mg content is subnormal. Raw chocolate is an excellent source of Mg.

Raw chocolate contains oleic acid. This is a monounsaturated fat that early research findings show helps raise the good cholesterol or HDL.

Healthy, raw, dark chocolate is extremely bitter. In order to make it palatable, equal parts of raw cocoa powder, raw honey and raw cocoa butter should be mixed together. Kept in the refrigerator, this makes a healthy sweet chocolate treat. Hot cocoa can be made with a healthy milk such as hemp or raw sheep, raw cocoa powder and raw honey. Some people seem to enjoy raw chocolate without anything added whatsoever. Apparently, this is an acquired taste.

Just how healthy is raw chocolate? A study done in 2005 reported the following results:
(1) Those study patients who ate 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate daily for two weeks and a day experienced a drop in LDL or bad cholesterol.

(2) The investigators identified a lowering of blood pressure, both top and bottom numbers.

(3) Chocolate has been found to make cells more sensitive to insulin. When cells become insensitive to insulin, hypoglycemia and diabetes can develop. Therefore, chocolate seems to offer some protection against these diseases.

Other studies have shown that dairy products interfere with the antioxidant absorption of healthy chocolate. Bittersweet chocolate, if it is sweetened with a healthy sugar such as raw honey or xylitol, is the healthy alternative to the milk chocolate bars. White chocolate has none of the healthy chocolate in it; it`s made from cocoa butter.

Sources:
Journal of Hypertension 2005, August. 23(8): 1453-1459.
Cornell University Department of Food and Nutrition, 2003.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6266256.stm

alyscat · 02-21-2009, 02:29 PM

I have something called "chocolate nibs" which are raw chocolate pieces. No fermentation, no additives, definitely bitter. (Got them at my local co-op) I have them in a choco protein shake, and when I blend them up, they go into little flakes that give the shake both texture and flavor. Probably an acquired taste, but I like it.
alys

Dantheman62 · 02-21-2009, 03:34 PM

More chocolate?, no problem!!

Antaletriangle · 02-21-2009, 05:45 PM

Get it dine yer-i like plain,dark,bitter chocolate but i'm mostly savoury in palette.

Humble Janitor · 02-22-2009, 05:53 AM

I've always had a taste for dark, bitter chocolate. Every once in a while, I'll buy a chocolate bar that has like 95% cocoa and no artificial anything in it. I love those.

Milk chocolate actually bores the hell out of me.

02-21-2009, 02:12 PM	#1
Antaletriangle Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.K. Posts: 3,380	Eat More Dark Chocolate for Health http://www.naturalnews.com/025688.html Chocolate has been a favorite food of people since it was first discovered. A joke among chocolate lovers is that it is an essential nutrient. But aside from a velvety texture and indescribable taste, is chocolate good for you? Research has shown that raw, dark cocoa is. Chocolate in assorted candies or bars has been processed. It has been fermented and sweetened with unhealthy sugars. It has preservatives and other added chemicals. It isn`t good for you at all, unlike raw, dark, healthy chocolate. Unlike money, chocolate really does grow on trees. Raw cocoa powder produced directly from the fruit of the cacao tree is a pure substance. It contains no additives and is high in antioxidants. A Cornell University study cites findings that it has two times the antioxidants of red wine. Raw chocolate is high in tryptophan. The human body uses tryptophan to help manufacture serotonin, a biogenic amine or neurotransmitter that prevents depression, so if you`ve heard that chocolate is an anti-depressant, there is some truth to that. There seems to be a positive link between raw chocolate and cardiovascular health. Early findings demonstrate that risk of blood clots, strokes and heart attacks is lessened in those people who regularly eat raw chocolate. One of the minerals needed for good heart function is magnesium (Mg). It is needed only in trace amounts, but in the majority of heart attack sufferers, the body`s Mg content is subnormal. Raw chocolate is an excellent source of Mg. Raw chocolate contains oleic acid. This is a monounsaturated fat that early research findings show helps raise the good cholesterol or HDL. Healthy, raw, dark chocolate is extremely bitter. In order to make it palatable, equal parts of raw cocoa powder, raw honey and raw cocoa butter should be mixed together. Kept in the refrigerator, this makes a healthy sweet chocolate treat. Hot cocoa can be made with a healthy milk such as hemp or raw sheep, raw cocoa powder and raw honey. Some people seem to enjoy raw chocolate without anything added whatsoever. Apparently, this is an acquired taste. Just how healthy is raw chocolate? A study done in 2005 reported the following results: (1) Those study patients who ate 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate daily for two weeks and a day experienced a drop in LDL or bad cholesterol. (2) The investigators identified a lowering of blood pressure, both top and bottom numbers. (3) Chocolate has been found to make cells more sensitive to insulin. When cells become insensitive to insulin, hypoglycemia and diabetes can develop. Therefore, chocolate seems to offer some protection against these diseases. Other studies have shown that dairy products interfere with the antioxidant absorption of healthy chocolate. Bittersweet chocolate, if it is sweetened with a healthy sugar such as raw honey or xylitol, is the healthy alternative to the milk chocolate bars. White chocolate has none of the healthy chocolate in it; it`s made from cocoa butter. Sources: Journal of Hypertension 2005, August. 23(8): 1453-1459. Cornell University Department of Food and Nutrition, 2003. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6266256.stm

02-21-2009, 02:29 PM	#2
alyscat Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Washington state Posts: 743	Re: Eat More Dark Chocolate for Health I have something called "chocolate nibs" which are raw chocolate pieces. No fermentation, no additives, definitely bitter. (Got them at my local co-op) I have them in a choco protein shake, and when I blend them up, they go into little flakes that give the shake both texture and flavor. Probably an acquired taste, but I like it. alys

02-21-2009, 03:34 PM	#3
Dantheman62 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: So. Cal. U.S. Posts: 4,205	Re: Eat More Dark Chocolate for Health More chocolate?, no problem!! Last edited by Dantheman62; 02-21-2009 at 04:38 PM.

02-21-2009, 05:45 PM	#4
Antaletriangle Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.K. Posts: 3,380	Re: Eat More Dark Chocolate for Health Get it dine yer-i like plain,dark,bitter chocolate but i'm mostly savoury in palette.

02-22-2009, 05:53 AM	#5
Humble Janitor Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,201	Re: Eat More Dark Chocolate for Health I've always had a taste for dark, bitter chocolate. Every once in a while, I'll buy a chocolate bar that has like 95% cocoa and no artificial anything in it. I love those. Milk chocolate actually bores the hell out of me.