I know where you’re getting at, and you may be right. Yes, it’s no surprise that chocolate has a lot of health advantages to offer, specifically because of the high antioxidant properties it contains. But this one is of different level, a higher one.

The students were able to come up with the special chocolate through a project in their course of organic and environmental technology. They were looking to bring the healthy apple back into the diet of Upper Austrians. The bitter-tasting and filled chocolate is made out of old, native apple varieties that are purified using apple brandy in oak barrels.

Certain varieties of apples contain high levels of polyphenols which are proven to prevent vascular deposits in humans, according to project leader Othmar Höglinger from the faculty for technology and environmental sciences at the University in Upper Austria. The main problem encountered, however, is the trouble in separating the healthy ingredients in the apple in order for them not to be harmed by oxygen so they are still able to seep through to the intestine when eaten in the chocolate, according to Höglinger.

The team, which is composed of biotechnologists with ages between 20 and 25 years old, is aiming to overcome this obstacle hopefully in two years’ time. The students of University of Applied Sciences are collaborating with chocolatiers, Martin Mayer Schokoladen in the development of this nutritious treat.

Sorry to pop your bubble, but you should still go easy on this particular chocolate as it still packs as many calories as a regular bar.

The holidays are just around the corner. And we all know what’s in it during this anticipated time of the year… food, lots of it. Eating and drinking just can’t get any better when done with the most special people in your life around. And since it happens only once in a year, most of us tend to go overboard and end up gaining unwanted pounds.

The company True Healthy Products is presenting the Simple Chocolate Diet. It may seem confusing and dishonest if you have never seen chocolate and diet mix up before, but such thing actually exists. This particular diet is suggested to those who might want to lose some weight, and chocolate enters the scene primarily as a stress-buster. Chocolates are known to help manage stress so you don’t go gaga over the Holidays’ extensive meals.

The particular diet uses a simple numbering system as a means to sort out food into groups to come up with varying results. These antioxidant rich chocolates are used in the diet to basically help in losing and maintaining weight, but working out and eating healthily are still in the equation.

The specific chocolates used are the company’s own,  “The Doctor’s Chocolate” and “True Healthy Dark Chocolate” which are both dark chocolates. They are sweetened with xylitol instead of regular sugar and so they are safe even for diabetics. Plus, they are supposedly appetite suppressants.  They even pointed out that unprocessed dark chocolate is proven to contain antioxidants even more than green tea. Also, it is said to have amazing benefits to your heart as well as the ability to lower sugar cravings.

The Doctors Chocolate is a raspberry-filled dark chocolate that contain “L-Theanine” which is a known de-stressing agent to help you relax and have better mental focus. The True Healthy Dark Chocolate, on the other hand, is a dark chocolate made up of herbal formula with strong antioxidants.

Jan Hrkach, CEO of True Healthy Products said, “Our chocolates are more than just a tasty chocolate – it’s an important part of your daily diet during the Simple Chocolate Diet. Our chocolates will keep the hunger pains away and give your body an extra boost – just when you need it!”

The free download of the diet plan is available at www.simplechocolatediet.com.  You can also visit the corporate site at www.truehealthyproducts.com.

“We found a potential link between chocolate consumption and prevention of heart disease,” said Dr. Oscar H. Franco, lead researcher from the department of public health and primary care at the University of Cambridge in the UK. The studies involved more than 114,000 participants and consumption of both dark and milk chocolate and incorporated chocolate bars, chocolate drinks and chocolate snacks. “At this point, we are in the early stages of research,” he added.

Previous studies have already shown links between chocolate and the reduction of heart risk disease, as cocoa and cacao products appear to contain positive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on the heart, but in this recent analysis, scientists found that those who consume the most chocolate on a regular basis virtually reduce their risk by one-third. It is not precise how much health benefits chocolate has to offer, though. Nevertheless, regular chocolate seemed to be significant.

According to World Health Organization, heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Metabolic syndrome, coupled with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, concern about one fifth of the adult population globally.

The said diseases, however, are basically avoidable by means of lifestyle modification including diet and exercise, and chocolate may provide additional help in preventing these illnesses when further knowledge about its health effects is dug down deeper.

Most commercially available chocolate products have sky-high levels of sugar and fat that only contribute to weight gain, hypertension, diabetes, and yes, heart diseases. So further studies need to be conducted in order to know ways of reducing these harmful elements in chocolates yet still maintain its beyond pleasant taste.

Don’t be too quick to succumb to gobbling a whole bar of chocolate, though. For the nth time, moderation is key.

Contrary to popular belief, eating chocolates can possibly improve cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and the risk of having diabetes. As strange as it may sound, it is true according to Harvard researchers. This study involved a review of 24 studies and 1,106 participants. And the said health benefits are due to the chocolate’s content called flavonoids which are of highest levels in the dark variants. Like I said, the right kind of chocolates, always keep that in mind.

Dark chocolates were considered as potent antioxidants by the researchers as well. These antioxidants affix themselves to free radicals, which are the main cause of cell destruction, and they are flushed away through digestion and other body processes. Chocolates are also found to contain what they call ORACS (Oxygen radical Absorbance Capacity Units), and its contents are even higher than those of red wine’s and even green tea’s. Consumption of food rich in antioxidants cuts down the risk of having heart attacks, stroke, asthma, and even degenerative cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Chocolate labels, nowadays, display the percentage of cocoa solids they contain. So, when buying such, make it a point to check it, and choose those with at least 70% of cocoa and those that have minimally-processed cacao in them. Antioxidants are not the only nutritional benefit chocolate has to offer, but other nutrients as well such as iron, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A, B-1, C, D and E.

“What is the appropriate amount”, you may ask. Study indicates that a single 5-g square contains approximately 25 calories and 1.5 g. of fat. Thus, an entire row is about 125 calories and 7.5 g of fat. Instead of devouring one whole bar of chocolate in one sitting, why not try consuming a single row one square at a time? This way, you can rest assured that you are eating in “appropriate” amounts.

Cacao seeds contain Flavonoids (specifically Flavanols) that are chemicals found in plant-based foods that give major health benefits. Over 4,000 flavonoids have been known and almost all of it are found in fruits, vegetables and beverages such as tea, coffee, beer, wine and fruit drinks. Good thing our beloved chocolate is part of the list!

When we eat foods that have flavonoids, it just means that we also take advantage of the antioxidants in it which are believed to help the body fight cell damage.  In addition to that, studies say that flavonoids have other helpful influences on vascular health, such as lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow to the brain and heart, making blood platelets less viscous. Thus, keeping cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels. It also slows down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries.

Eating a small bar of dark chocolate a day is beneficial for you, very beneficial for you. “Why dark chocolates,” you may ask. Not all chocolate is produced the same. Dark chocolates hold a lot more cocoa than milk and white chocolates which means dark chocolate contains more flavonoids than lighter chocolate. Since processing chocolate almost always destroys the flavonoids in chocolates, chocolate companies have learned to make dark chocolate keep its flavonoids up to 95%.

Nutrition experts advise eating flavonoid-rich foods rather than taking dietary supplements containing large amounts of flavonoids.

Aside from being decadent and delicious, chocolates are actually healthy! But that doesn’t mean you can devour a whole bar of chocolate in one sitting and wait for health benefits. Remember, too much of something is bad. Moderation is always key.

Well, that all might change a bit.  I just learned about Crio Bru.  It’s a drink that is brewed like coffee, but it is made of 100% cocoa beans.  Like coffee, the beans are roasted and ground.  You put the grounds in your coffee maker.

And, according to a press release I read, “Crio Bru delivers the same intense, complex flavors of the finest cocoa beans found in artisan dark chocolate.”

That sounds really interesting, as well as healthy and delicious!

Crio Bru currently offers three varieties, each with a unique, but completely natural taste coming from the choice of cocoa beans used.

Here’s a quick overview of each variety:

1. Cavalla – These cocoa beans come from the Ivory Coast and impart hints of dark spice, coconut, and cinnamon.
    
2. Coca River – These beans come from Ecuador and you may pick out notes of green banana, blackberries, and jasmine.
    
3. Vega Real – These beans from the Dominican Republic offer hints of red berries and dark spice.

Of course being an all-natural — no ingredients added – product of cacao, this brewed cocoa offers the high level of antioxidants that you’d find in a good dark chocolate.  It’s heart healthy and low-calorie.  And, though the beans contain caffeine, it’s much lower than the dose of a cup of coffee.

Speaking of antioxidants, the Crio Bru website says that, “Even after it has been roasted and brewed, Crio Bru has 150% more antioxidants than pure pomegranate juice.”  Since I’m big into the nutritional benefits of chocolate, I find this rather exciting.

Now I just have to look forward to getting my hands on some of this so that I can do a proper review!  If you want to do the same, click the banner below…
 

 

Enjoy!

Right!  I just finished eating a Xyla™ brand Healthy Chocolate™ sugar-free dark chocolate tasting square, and I thought it was delicious.  The chocolaty flavors start out bold then the fruity, citrusy, and soft earthy notes show throughout.  The texture is mostly smooth but there is an occasional gritty crunch of (I would guess) the xylitol.

Over the years, I have eaten a variety of low sugar and sugar-free functional chocolates; chocolates designed with added protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, but that’s not what Xyla is all about.  Xyla delivers an all natural, completely sugar-free dark chocolate without the use of artificial sweeteners or “bonus” ingredients.  It’s simply chocolate without sugar.

Instead of using sucrose or high fructrose corn syrup, some sugar-free confections use an artificial, zero calorie sweetener like aspartame (NutraSweet), acesulfame K (Sunett), sucralose (Splenda), or a blend of these.  Xyla replaces sugar with xylitol.  Xylitol is safe for diabetics and people who suffer from hyperglycemia because of its extremely low impact on one’s blood sugar.  Xylitol is not calorie free, however.  One teaspoon of xylitol contains 9.6 Cal compared to one teaspoon of sugar which contains 15 Cal.

Xylitol does not have an aftertaste and is naturally found in the fibers of fruits, vegetables, corn husks, and birch trees.  Xylitol can have a mild laxative side effect, and in some people can cause diarrhea.

I recommend you visit www.xylitolusa.com and sample one of their chocolates.  The raspberry dark chocolate is amazing, too!

Enjoy!

What is the difference between store bought chocolate and the high flavonol chocolate found in all those scientific studies?

The simple answer to this question is found in the question itself.  Store bought chocolate typically has lower quantities of flavonol substances.  OK, that’s a weak answer.  Here is some explanation…

Stores offer a wide selection of chocolates and candy bars to meet the demand for variety.  Most chocolate companies cater to the sweet tooth side of us and not the health nut side.  The chocolate is not designed to deliver high content flavonoids and other beneficial components found in chocolate.

Some specialized chocolate companies do focus on the nutritional benefits of chocolate, and their chocolate products will contain higher contents of flavonoids to increase the impact of antioxidants.  Many of these functional chocolates contain high levels of  procyanidins and epicatechins  due to a unique (and proprietary) processing of cacao beans.

Not all chocolate is created equal, not among grocery store brands, specialty chocolates, or nutritional/functional chocolates.  Dark chocolate contains more cocoa solids than milk chocolate so that gives it more potential benefits. 

Research indicates that normal chocolate manufacturing could destroy up to half of the naturally occurring flavonoids.  This process has been studied and refined so that today some manufacturers have learned to make dark chocolate with a 95% retention of its flavonoids.

As attention remains on the potential health benefits of chocolate more manufacturers will follow suit so the benefits reach more consumers.

How do anti-oxidants help us?   “Anti”-oxidants counteract the negative effects of oxidation on our bodies.  Oxidation damages cells and tissues.  What is oxidation, you ask?

Here’s a simple example that you’re familiar with.  Think of a slice of apple turning brown shortly after you cut it.  This is discoloring demonstrates the damage that oxidation causes on the cells of the apple.  If instead of leaving the slice out in the open air, you dip immediately in some lemon juice, the brown oxidative damage slows w-a-y down.  In this case the lemon juice is the antioxidant.

Our bodies are naturally good at fighting oxidation but it becomes more difficult as we grow older.  Eating foods high in antioxidants can give our aging bodies a boost.  Research has shown that red and purple colored fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, but chocolate and cocoa are among the highest in antioxidant power!

Researchers measure the effectiveness of foods containing antioxidants.  Here is a handy chart of the top five foods packing a punch.

* Note that numbers will vary based on sample and other factors, but generally the order remains the same.

By the way, milk chocolate comes in a little lower, with an ORAC score of 6,740.

Some studies suggest that we should eat between 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units a day, while the average person only takes in about 1,200 ORAC units per day.

You know what that means, don’t you?  EAT MORE CHOCOLATE.  You don’t have to tell me twice!