Chocolate Is Healthy

While it was generally known that foods rich in flavanols like chocolate are good for heart health, this study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences established a direct link between flavanol-rich chocolate and cardiovascular benefits.

“The study relied on volunteers from the Kuna Indians, who live on the San Blas islands off the coast of Panama. High blood pressure and other signs of cardiovascular disease are rare among the Kuna. And they are known to consume large amounts of flavanol-rich cocoa—three to four cups a day.

Previous studies found that Kuna who migrated to the suburbs of Panama City on the mainland drink only about four cups of cocoa per week and do not enjoy the same level of cardiovascular health.

The islanders have twice the level of urinary nitric oxide, a chemical associated with healthy flow of blood through the arteries. And those who drank cocoa with more flavanols had higher levels of nitric oxide.

Also, higher levels of epicatechin in the bloodstream were accompanied by improved blood flow. Lab tests showed that flavanols allow vascular tissue to relax.”

Secret to Chocolate’s Heart Benefits Found | LiveScience.

The Washington Post recently asked several nutrition experts what they see as the best ingredients to keep in your kitchen that will have positive long-term health effects.

The list include:

• fresh or frozen blueberries
• broccoli and other dark greens
• quinoa
• sardines
• and of course, cacao!

Here’s why cacao made the list of the most healthy foods to incorporate into your diet.

“You’ll often see dark chocolate turn up on “superfood” lists because it contains blood-pressure-lowering plant phenols and loads of antioxidants. Cacao, or raw chocolate, is even better because it lacks sugar and other additives. Though bitter, the whole beans or nibs can be eaten plain. In its powder form, cacao can be mixed into a smoothie or pancake batter, making it taste much like the guilty pleasure we all know and love.”

Nutrition experts recommend healthful must-haves for your kitchen – washingtonpost.com.

Not that you don’t know this already, but it’s always good to hear.  We’ve discussed the benefits of dark chocolate for heart health, mood and more.  Nutritionist and best selling diet book author Zoe Harcombe lays out some practical instruction for how to consume healthy chocolate.

She said: “Stick to dark chocolate, with at least 70 per cent cocoa and ideally, 85 per cent.

“The problem with milk chocolate is that it uses artificial sweeteners and it’s a lot more calorific.

“Have a couple of squares of dark chocolate after dinner and you’ll feel like you’ve had dessert, yet you won’t be piling on the pounds.”

Interestingly, Harcombe also says that your day’s dark chocolate treat should be enjoyed at one time, and not spread throughout the day.  Spreading out your chocolate intake causes insulin to be released repeatedly, contributing to weight gain.

Expert confirms dark chocolate is good for your health – The Daily Record.

Not only is chocolate healthy, but in Guatemala, it’s a national treasure.  Chocolate beverages have been enjoyed in Mexico and Central America for thousands of years.    In an effort to preserve the traditional methods of preparing the beverage, the Minister of Culture issued a special decree.

Here’s a bit more on chocolate production in Guatemala.

“While “gold standard” Mixco chocolate can be found in supermarkets, it is still most widely distributed the same way it always has been: peddlers travel around the country bringing it to local markets and door-to-door to Guatemalan homes.
The traditional preparation of chocolate in Mixco has been women’s work.

It is almost entirely done by hand: women pull the seeds from cacao pods, slow-roast them and then grind them in mills, often by hand.

The complex process is not taught in any formal setting — know-how is still passed on mostly at home and on the farm, from one generation to the next.”

In Guatemala, hot chocolate deemed a national treasure < Dining & Cuisine | Expatica Spain.

Raw food nutrition expert and shaman Daniel Vitalis hosted a recent gathering where he emphasized the psychoactive properties of the cacao plant .  The evening featured a raw chocolate sampling, where participants sampled a variety of raw chocolates.  Many myths about chocolate were also debunked.

“Vitalis picked up on the theme of alchemy, stating that psychoactive plants, like the cacao tree, are the No. 1 missing nutrient in our diet.

“When you consume psychoactive plants, here’s what happens: The plant makes neural transmitters, brain chemicals just like the one your brain makes, but better,” he explained. “In the presence of neurotransmitters, new neural pathways are laid down. We call them synaptic networks. These networks are where the neurons of your brain start to link together, connecting this thought to this thought, so when you start to take in these plant substances, you become more intelligent.”

A celebration of chocolate’s psychoactive properties.