Richard van Beek asked:

Medical science is actually telling us to eat dark chocolate for heart health.  How is this possible?  Up until now, we’ve always thought chocolate was bad for us!

It turns out that dark chocolate made from unprocessed cocoa, contains high amounts of flavonoids and phytochemicals.  These are antioxidants found in nutritious foods like raisins, prunes, acai berries, and blueberries.  Cocoa has from its origin an incredible high amount of these antioxidants and science has found a way by cold pressing the cocoa. And that’s responsible for the benefits of dark chocolate for heart health.

It’s not just hype by the chocolate manufacturers.  Here are the results of just four scientific, placebo-controlled studies recently conducted by medical doctors and universities all over the world, to prove that we can eat dark chocolate for heart health without any guilt.

A study by the American College of Cardiology found that blood flow increased significantly in individuals who consumed cocoa for six weeks.  They concluded that more studies need to be done to determine how much cocoa makes a difference.  This is only one study that supports the idea that it’s okay to eat dark chocolate for heart health.

In another study, forty-five borderline obese but otherwise healthy adults were given either cocoa or a placebo.  Doctors measured their blood pressure both before and after, and found that those who ate the dark chocolate had better blood pressure.  The benefits of dark chocolate for heart health are immediate.

The Journal of the American Medical Association has said that eating a reasonable amount of dark chocolate can lower your blood pressure enough to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by up to eight percent.  When you add dark chocolate for heart health to all the other things you do, like getting enough exercise and eating a careful diet, it makes a difference.

A study conducted at the University Hospital of Cologne, Germany, looked at men and women with mildly elevated blood pressure.  At the end of the study, those who consumed a small amount of healthy dark chocolate every day had lower blood pressure readings.  Those who consumed white chocolate showed no change.

If you’re pregnant or know someone who is, keep in mind that blood pressure rises during pregnancy.  A little piece of dark chocolate during pregnancy is a good thing, because it can help regulate blood pressure.

Drinking cocoa had the same effect as eating it, opening up a whole world of possibilities.  You can get your healthy cocoa in many ways, dark chocolate for heart health is available in drinks, snacks and chunk form.

Dark chocolate for heart health has just one of the many health benefits and perhaps some that we aren’t aware of at this time.  The brand and reputation continues to grow with the scientific researches done nowadays.  Helping friends and family better their health and improve their way of life can be achieved by eating dark chocolate for heart health.

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Timothy Prahl asked:


of this 2 part series exploring the potential health benefits of organic dark chocolate for the current or pre-diabetic, we focused on the very high concentrations of ‘flavanols’ in cocoa and their positive effect for a healthy cardiovascular system. We will now look at several specific studies and their results relating to diabetes control.

By introducing a consistent, high quality source of the flavanols found in dark chocolate, insulin function is improved, blood sugar is better controlled, blood pressure is lowered, and the threat of blood sugar build up and pre-diabetes is lessened.

A recent study at the University of L’Aquila in Italy confirmed these vascular effects. Over a 15 day period, 15 healthy test subjects were given 100g of a typical dark chocolate, (with 500 mg of flavonoids), and 15 others were given 100g of white chocolate (which has NO measurable flavonoids).

After a 7 day washout period following the first test, the groups were reversed and tested for another 15 days. At the end of each period, oral glucose tolerance tests were performed to calculate the insulin resistance and the quantitative insulin sensitivity. Systolic blood pressure was also checked.

Davide Grassi published the results in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition”:

“Dark, but not white, chocolate decreases blood pressure and improves insulin sensitivity in healthy persons.”

“Nitric oxide bioavailability deeply influences insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and vascular tone.”

“These findings indicate that dark chocolate may exert a protective action on the vascular endothelium also by improving insulin sensitivity”.

A sidebar of note for current or pre-diabetics.

Obesity is a known risk factor for insulin resistance. Cocoa powder (the origin of dark chocolate) has been proven to be an effective appetite suppressant. A check of the ingredients on the label of many of the popular diet supplements will list cocoa powder high on the list.

So, a portion of good quality dark chocolate before a meal will not only provide your vascular system with a needed antioxidant boost, but you may also gain benefit against the ‘battle of the bulge’.

Another healthy dark chocolate fact for diabetics is the type of fat contained in cocoa.

Two thirds of the fats in dark chocolate are ‘heart healthy’. A study published in “Free Radical Biology Medicine” found that dark chocolate “actually increased HDL (good cholesterol) concentrations and reduced the oxidation of the total cholesterol”.

Where do you find ‘quality’ Healthy Dark Chocolate?

MXI Corporation’s “Xocai” dark chocolate products are independently tested and have the highest antioxidant ratings. (Using the United States Department of Agriculture’s Standardized Antioxidant Value System)

They use an exclusive, patented, cold pressed process that eliminates the ROASTING procedure, and significantly increases antioxidant retention. Of note to diabetics, their products are supplemented with acai berries and blueberries (both with very high antioxidant concentrations), and sweetened with low glycemic, natural ingredients (no raw sugars).

Dagoba dark chocolate products are also an excellent choice. Like Xocai, they are all organic, and while roasted, they are sweetened with unrefined cane sugar, not processed white sugar. As a comparison, a Hershey’s “Healthy” Special Dark Chocolate bar tips the scales at 21 grams of sugar, while Dagoba has only 4 grams.

South Beach Diet offers dark chocolate products that are low on sugar content and have a high percentage of cocoa powder. These products are combined with other healthy natural ingredients to increase their nutritional value.

Most quality, organic, healthy dark chocolate is available only on the Internet. This allows consumers worldwide to shop and compare a variety of these delicious, nutritious products. This also allows the home based entrepreneur the opportunity to take advantage of this highly desirable, rapidly expanding, international market.

If you don’t have the time or patience to shop online, then dark chocolate straight from the store shelves is still an option.

However, it is suggested that you check the ingredient list of the various products available, and select one that has cocoa or cocoa powder listed as the first ingredient. Unfortunately, many dark chocolate products that you will find have ‘sugar’ listed as the primary ingredient.

Enjoy your healthy dark chocolate in moderation, and, if diabetic, even with this encouraging information regarding antioxidants and healthy dark chocolate, please continue to monitor your personal situation and, if indicated, consult with your physician.



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George Alarcon asked:


Acai has been identified as a super berry on the market because it contains everything your body can possibly need. For starters, acai berry provides Vitamin B1, B2, B3, C, E, Potassium, Fiber, Proteins, Phosphorus, Calcium, ideal fatty acids like Omega 9, Omega 6 to help in reducing high cholesterol level.

Still another benefit: Acai offers you the biggest degree of anti-oxidant on the market, with up-to-date studies showing up to 33 times the antioxidant power in comparison to red wine grapes. Acai provides your body amazing energy as from your teenage years, and the life force and greater stamina you felt when you were younger. Consider trying the Acai product brand that we have successfully taken and you too will experience its natural power.

Acai contains two central fatty acids recognized as Omega 9 and Omega 6. Omega 9 fatty acids decrease LDL and help keep HDL levels. Further ressearch proves that Omega 6 actually aids in reducing LDL, the damaging cholesterol.

Acai’s AntiOxidant elements have a big role in maintaining the vascular cardiac system; this is essential for smoother blood circulation.

Acai’s dark purple color exists because of polyphenolic compounds present. A major plant chemical in Acai gets much attention; this compound is known as anthocyanin. Anthocyanins are a cluster of Flavonoids which is broadly distributed in plants; it also gives a red to purple color to fruits such as grapes, raspberries, and blackberries. Furthermore, it contains the usual minerals and vitamins that are carried in most fruits.

Anthocyanins has been classified in the “group” of plant compounds known as Flavonoids. In fact, Flavonoids are a division of plant polyphenols which might have potential antioxidant abilities; researchers are currently studying Anthocyanins for their anti-aging and anti-cancer potential. They are also now under investigation for their unique ability to stop LDL cholesterol, reduce blood clotting, and even guard cells against harmful carcinogens.

Anthocyanins counteracts enzymes which damage connective tissue. Their antioxidant ability helps in preventing oxidants from hurting connective tissues; it also aids in fixing the damaged proteins in your body’s blood vessel walls.

By the prevention of tyrosine nitration, the Anthocyanins found in Acai could assist in safeguarding against neurological illnesses. In fact, the central Anthocyanins found in Acai–recognized as Cyanidin-3-glucoside–have been discovered to aid in reversing age-related neurological problems.

Anthocyanins’ ability to fight oxidants gives them a favorably potent status in the battle against arteriosclerosis. Anthocyanins safeguards the soundness of your body’s endothelial cells which keep blood vessel walls in a line and assist in maintaining the integrity of micro capillary.

In the case of Diabetes, the protection offered through Anthocyanins could help stop damaged capillaries from leaking, as well as help in preventing massive atypical protein production.



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