Some Good News about chocolate at last !
Dark choc, (esp + 80% black & greenes, is full of antioxidants?..
Cacao: An amazing superfood bursting with antioxidants ?
Antioxidant-rich - Cacao is the most antioxidant-rich food in the world.
To put these numbers in perspective, goji berries (the highest non-cacao source of antioxidants) score 25,300, acai berries score 18,500, and blueberries - famous for their antioxidant content - score 2,400
Many of the antioxidants present in cacao are flavonoids, including anthocyanidin. Like all antioxidants, these flavonoids are intimately involved in the prevention of free radical damage, but they also have a central role in boosting collagen protection. This means that antioxidant-rich foods like cacao are not only good at guarding us from cancer and other degenerative diseases, but also provide us with many anti-aging benefits.
Mood booster - Chocolate, in both its processed and natural form, has always been regarded as a mood booster. Whereas processed chocolate is more of a 'comfort food' due to its unhealthy refined sugar content, real chocolate - sourced from organic cacao - actually promotes the release of neurotransmitters such as endorphins and serotonin, which are legitimate feel-good hormones. Cacao also contains natural mood-boosting compounds such as theobromine and phenylethyamine, making it a good food for people suffering from low vibrational states such as anxiety, sadness and depression.
Improves cardiovascular health - According to the Linus Pauling Institute, the flavonoids in cacao can block the oxidation of 'bad' LDL cholesterol. Since LDL cholesterol must oxidize before it can transform into plaque, this blocking process directly protects us from several serious cardiovascular conditions, including atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Ultimately, this improves circulation and minimizes the risk of heart disease.
Consumption advice
Cacao is best consumed raw in powdered or nib form. The powder is frequently added to smoothies (it mixes well with other superfoods like maca powder), or simply drunk with hot water. Due to cacao's sourness, however, you might want to sweeten it with a healthy sugar substitute like xylitol if you plan to drink it straight. Like most energizers, cacao is best consumed in the morning or at least not before bedtime.
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