Healthy Chocolate – The Best Tasting Health Food

September 6, 2009 by Kathryn Barry

Healthy Chocolate comes with some of the most essential nutrients needed by most Americans. This is probably why we all have chocolate cravings.

Chocolate comes from the fruit of the cacao tree. This fruit contains cacao seeds or beans and inside the bean is where you’ll find the chocolate.

Highest Amount of Antioxidants

Real chocolate has more antioxidant flavonoids than any known food on this planet. Antioxidants protect your body from the aging process created by free radicals. The more unprocessed and low temperature treated the chocolate, the more antioxidants it will contain.

Antioxidant Flavonoid Health Benefits:

Helps repair damage caused by free radicals

Reduces blood clotting

Helps with your circulation

Reduces risk of stroke and heart attacks

Dark chocolate has quite a bit more antioxidant flavonoids than milk chocolate and raw chocolate would have the highest amounts.

Highest Magnesium Mineral Content

Healthy Chocolate is loaded with the essential mineral magnesium. Women need this mineral to help them balance their brain chemistry, especially during that special time of the month.

Women aren’t the only ones who need magnesium as the majority of Americans are quite deficient in this important mineral. It is vital for the regulation of your blood pressure and for the health of your heart.

Beneficial Fatty Acids

The fats found in chocolate are called saturated and monounsaturated fats. It appears that chocolate is a heart healthy food and will not raise your cholesterol levels.

The monounsaturated fatty acids found in chocolate is called oleic acid. Olive oil also contains this heart healthy monounsaturated fatty acid.

Contains “Feel Happy Chemicals”

Phenylethylamine and anandamide are the chemicals responsible for altering your brain chemistry.

Phenylethylamine has the ability to increase alertness and focus, but the most important feeling it gives you is the same feeling as when you are in-love.

Anandamide levels increase in your brain with the consumption of chocolate. This chemical produces a feeling of relaxation and just makes you feel good.

Healthy Chocolate is Raw Cacao

When chocolate is raw or processed at a low temperature, it becomes a powerful super food that is loaded with great amounts of nutrients, minerals and vitamins.

Magnesium is the most abundant, but also present are minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, calcium and potassium. Along with these minerals there are B vitamins and vitamin E.

You will not find much caffeine in raw chocolate. What you will find is the sister molecule of caffeine which is called theobromine.

Experiments have shown that these stimulants are far different when consumed raw. Chocolate has a much more stimulating effect when it is cooked or roasted.

To locate some of the best raw cacao and cacao smoothie ideas, go to Raw Cacao Powder. For important information on antioxidant foods visit Destination Healthy Foods.

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