Chocolate and your Health
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Can Chocolate be Healthy?
In a recent publication, I found the following interesting information:
"If you eat a small portion of dark chocolate
each day, you reduce your risk of getting a heart attack or stroke, say
US scientists in a new study in the Journal of the American College of
Nutrition.
The researchers found that dark chocolate is
high in flavanoids. Flavanoids come from plants and are found in pure
chocolate such as in cocoa or dark chocolate (baker's chocolate).
Flavanoids improve the function of blood vessels and prevent the build
up of plaque on artery walls. It was pointed out that commercial
chocolate sold as milk chocolate has very little, if any, pure cocoa
present in the commercial product. Choose wisely when you purchase."
Another article prepared by the Donsbach
Foundation states that "we find that chocolate has twice the
antioxidants of green tea, is a natural anti-stress drink (if you drink
your chocolate in hot cocoa form) and is an effective cough syrup. The
article suggests using "pure cocoa without sugar, mix with hot milk or
hot water, add two tablespoons of honey" to make one of the best cough
suppressants available.
Here are chocolate products that are the result of study to assure they contain the healthy properties mentioned above, and more!
Calcium Crunch Dark Chocolate Bars Cardio Raspberry/Dark Chocolate Bars These are safe for diabetics and hypoglycemics. A delicious snack prepared with your health in mind! Nutri-Burn Chocolate ~ Weight Loss Meal Replacement
 Cocao Fruit which contains the Cocoa Beans
Some "chocoholics" who just couldn't give up their favorite treat have inadvertently done their fellow chocolate lovers - and science - a big favor. A recent study at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine was focused on blood platelets and blood clots. The study participants, some of whom were fond of eating chocolate, were given a list of foods to avoid - the list included chocolate. It seems that some of them ended up indulging their cravings for chocolate during the study. Amazingly, their indulgence led to researchers to an important discovery which is believed to be the first of its kind. Through biochemical analysis, the researchers are now able to explain why just a few squares of chocolate a day can reduce the risk of heart attack death in some men and women by almost 50%. It turns out that the chocolate decreases the tendency of platelets to clot in narrow blood vessels. "What these chocolate 'offenders' taught us is that the chemical in cocoa beans has a biochemical effect similar to aspirin in reducing platelet clumping, which can be fatal if a clot forms and blocks a blood vessel, causing a heart attack," says Diane Becker, M.P.H., Sc.D., a professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health. Becker cautions that her work is not intended as a prescription to gobble up large amounts of chocolate candy, which often contains diet-busting amounts of sugar, butter and cream. But as little as 2 tablespoons a day of dark chocolate - the purest form of the candy, made from the dried extract of roasted cocoa beans - may be just what the doctor ordered. Are you fond of eating chocolate? Try mixing your high quality dark chocolate with some Phi Plus - you might be amazed by your own findings. $3 for Questions, Comments Always Free! |
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