Health Benefits of Chocolate

By: Jeffrey Taylor

There has been a lot of talk lately about the health benefits found in chocolate. New research is coming out talking about its positive effects regarding lowering blood pressure, regulating insulin levels in diabetics, helping pregnant women, dental health, cardiovascular, sleeplessness. The list goes on.

Before you go on a chocolate binge at your local grocery store, keep this in mind. All Chocolate is Not Created Equal!

Most candy bars and chocolate foods commonly found in grocery stores are not what you're looking for. These are typically high in refined (white) sugar, milk fats, and hydrogenated oils-ingredients that replace the truly healthful nutrients found in cocoa. It is basically Junk Food, and should be eaten in moderation.

Healthy Chocolate is totally different than store bought chocolate.

The true healthy chocolate products combine the antioxidant benefits of the finest, all-natural European cocoa powder and the Acai berry (Ah-Sigh-EE) from the Amazon Rain Forest. Healthy Chocolate is the perfect delivery system for the potent antioxidants in dark chocolate. The processed chocolate found in candy is laden with fat, wax, fillers, and sugar (not to mention that processing chocolate actually kills about 75% of its antioxidant capacity). Healthy chocolates contain completely natural, UNPROCESSED chocolate which retains 100% of its antioxidant and nutritional value!

With 10 times the antioxidants of grapes and over 7 times the antioxidants of blueberries, the Brazilian Acai berry (AH-sigh-EE) is considered to have the best nutritional value of any fruit on earth.

Healthy Chocolate vs. "Candy" Chocolate

The following list compares the Healthy chocolate to commercially produced "candy" chocolate products

The top healthy chocolate uses non alkalized, cold processed, premium grade cacao vs Candy Chocolate which generally uses low grade,alkalized and lecithinized cacao.

The top healthy chocolate contains no wax, fillers or added caffeine vs candy chocolate which contains various waxes, fillers and added caffeine.

The top healthy chocolate uses raw cane juice crystals, an unprocessed natural sweetener and crystalline fructose, a low glycemic (Gl 20), all natural sweetener, while still providing an exceptionally sweet taste. Contains natural cocoa butter vs candy chocolate which contains high amounts of refined sugar, the most detrimental ingredient in most chocolate candy. Substitutes milk solids and oils for cocoa butter.

The top healthy chocolate is exceptionally high in antioxidant content - in fact, possesses one of the highest ORAC scores of any product in the marketplace. vs candy chocolate where antioxidant content varies from product to product, but is typically low.

Below is a list of the Top Antioxidant Foods: ORAC Values of top antioxidant foods (per 100 grams) Unprocessed Cocoa powder 26,000, Acai Berry 18,500 Dark Chocolate 13,120, Prunes 5,770, Raisins 2,830, Blueberries 2,400, Blackberries 2,036, Strawberries 1,540, Spinach,Raw 1,260, Broccoli Florets 890, Red Grapes 739, Cherries 670. What is ORAC? ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. The USDA uses the ORAC scale to measure the antioxidant capacities of different foods.

What is the Acai Berry?

The Acai berry is relatively new to the North American USA market, but it has been consumed by millions in South America for hundreds of years, perhaps for thousands of years. The Acai berry tastes like a vibrant blend of berries and chocolate. Hidden within its royal purple pigment is the magic that makes it nature's perfect energy fruit. The Acai berry is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids. The Acai berry is considered nature's number one "superfood". The top healthy chocolate uses unprocessed cacao (cocoa) powder and the Acai Berry in all its products. Because the fermentation, drying, and roasting processes are closely monitored, healthy chocolate delivers the optimum amount of the antioxidants naturally found in the cacao (cocoa).

Do your research and look before you buy. Not all chocolate is healthy, but picking the right chocolate can be good for your health.

To find out more information about the best healthy chocolate and the research behind healthy chocolate visit http://www.darkchocolateresearch.com