Raw Chocolate

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Raw Chocolate: Experience The Health Benefits of Raw, Organic Cocoa Nibs & Powder Here are the key reasons why eating raw chocolate is good for your health: Raw chocolate is naturally rich in flavonoids, which are natural nutrients with antioxidant properties - the same nutrients that make berries, grapes, and green tea health-promoting foods. Flavonoids that are abundant in raw chocolate can protect your cells against damage by free radicals, which can help to

prevent premature aging. Flavonoids in raw chocolate are good for your heart, as they can help to prevent stickiness of platelets, which are cells that play an important role in blood clotting. Flavonoids can help your body produce nitric oxide, a compound that promotes a healthy cardiovascular system. Before you make conventional chocolate bars a staple in your diet, it's important to understand that the health benefits of chocolate are mainly due to its rich flavonoid content. And the more chocolate is processed, the fewer flavonoids it retains. Fewer flavonoids translates to less antioxidant content and less potential health benefits. If you want to eat chocolate to optimally support your

health, your best choice is raw, organic chocolate that has no added ingredients like sugar, milk, and oil. Your next best choice is dark chocolate with 70 percent or more cocoa content, but this ranks a distant second to raw chocolate, since conventional dark chocolate bars are exposed to significant heat and processing. The worst choices are milk and white chocolate. Most varieties of milk chocolate have only about 25 to 50 percent the flavonoid content of dark chocolate, and white chocolate has no flavonoids. The antioxidant content of different foods is measured by what's called the ORAC test; the higher the ORAC value for a food, the greater its antioxidant content. Here is a list of ORAC values for foods that are known to be rich in antioxidants, as calculated by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Journal of the American Chemical Society: Dark chocolate 13,120 Milk chocolate 6,740 Prunes 5,770 Raisins 2,830 Blueberries 2,400 Blackberries 2,036 Kale 1,770 Strawberries 1,540 Spinach 1,260 Raspberries 1,220 Brussels sprouts 980 Plums 949 Alfalfa sprouts 930 Broccoli 890 Beyond its value as a food that is super-rich in antioxidants, raw chocolate is also abundant in the following health-promoting nutrients: Serotonin (3 mg per 100 g) and tyramine (2 mg per 100 g) - both are capable of creating a mild calming effect. Copper (0.8 mg per 100 g) - needed for energy production, proper nerve signaling, optimal bone health, and formation of healthy connective tissue in your heart and blood vessels. Phenylethylamine (PEA) - can help to promote mental alertness and focus. It is also thought to combat feelings of depression, and is released within your brain when you are in love. Magnesium (131 mg per 100 g) - is needed for healthy bones and teeth, energy production, and optimal heart, nerve, and muscle health. Magnesium levels tend to be low during menstruation, which may explain why some women tend to crave chocolate on a periodic basis.

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