Surprising Finding: Gut Microbes Make Dark Chocolate Healthy

Researchers have now discovered that certain bacteria in your gut actually break down and ferment the components in dark chocolate, turning them into absorbable anti-inflammatory compounds that benefit your health. In particular, beneficial microbes including Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria like to “feast” on cocoa, according to the researchers. The microbes also break down the fiber found in cocoa powder, turning it into highly absorbable short fatty acid chains that promote satiety. The study, which involved three cocoa powders tested in a model digestive tract, may help explain why chocolate has been found to be so good for your heart, as the anti-inflammatory compounds may reduce inflammation of cardiovascular tissue.

Easy Homemade Coconut Oil Chocolate Recipes

Coconut oil makes fantastic homemade chocolate. With just a few extra ingredients, coconut oil will morph into an impressively smooth, rich dark chocolate that won’t require a chocolate-making class to learn. The easiest coconut oil chocolates require no cooking and generally all the ingredients are blended together in one easy step.

Flavonoids In Tea, Chocolate and Berries Can Prevent Diabetes

Strong evidence from several studies have shown that individuals consuming fruits and vegetables rich in different flavonoids have a reduced risk of overall mortality and of several chronic diseases. According to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and King's College London, eating high levels of flavonoids including anthocyanins and other compounds (found in berries, tea, and chocolate) may prevent type 2 diabetes, a disease whose initial stages is now affecting almost 40 percent of Americans age 20 and older.

Chocolate Better for Your Teeth Than Fluoride

Toothpaste that contains the naturally-occurring cacao extract theobromine was more effective at repairing and re-mineralizing exposed dentin (the tissue that makes up the bulk of your teeth below the enamel) than fluoride toothpaste. People who brushed their teeth with cacao-extract toothpaste twice a day for one week had “100 percent dental occlusion” with their tooth dentin becoming re-mineralized or repaired. Past research has also shown that the phytocompound found in chocolate known as theobromine works better than fluoride at repairing lesions in artificial enamel. There are safer and more effective solutions for dental health than fluoridated toothpaste (and fluoridated drinking water), including natural non-fluoride toothpastes and proper nutrition.

New Study Confirms Chocolate’s Fat-Busting Properties

A new observational study published in the journal Nutrition, confirms that chocolate consumption may have significant health benefits. The European study titled, "Association between chocolate consumption and fatness in European adolescents," found a higher chocolate consumption was associated with lower total and central fatness in European adolescents.

The Rich Benefits of Eating Chocolate

Science now shows that chocolate may be good for you. Five chemical compounds contained in raw, unadulterated chocolate are highlighted to show exactly what they are and how they work. First, antioxidant polyphenols that neutralize free radicals provide some of the most compelling aspects of eating chocolate because they can reduce processes associated with the development of diseases like Alzheimer’s, heart disease and cancer. Second, chocolate contains anandamide, named after the Sanscrit word for “bliss,” which is a neurotransmitter in the brain that temporarily blocks feelings of pain and anxiety. The caffeine and theobromine in chocolate have been shown to produce higher levels of physical energy and mental alertness while, counter-intuitively, lowering blood pressure in women. Chocolate’s heart-friendly properties may be due to the presence of epicatechins, antioxidants which are found in higher concentrations in darker and raw forms. Studies showed that one-and-a-half ounces of dark chocolate a day for 2 weeks reduced stress hormone levels.

How To Make Irresistible Coconut Oil Chocolates

by Beyond the Peel

Do you want to satisfy a sweet tooth without a bunch of effort, still have it portion controlled, and have it be good for you?

I hope the answer is yes.

If it is, this video is for you.

This lovely recipe was given to me by a dear friend. She whips these up […]

Chocolate Gives Statins A $29 Billion Run For Their Money

by Sayer Ji
GreenMedInfo.com
With the blockbuster cholesterol-lowering class of drugs known as statins being widely promoted for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, despite their having over 300 documented adverse health effects (including heart failure!), how does chocolate sound as a viable, heart-friendly alternative?
We already connect amorously with chocolate (to the tune of 6 billion lbs of cocoa […]

Chocolate: Candy or Cutting-Edge Medicine?

Health Impact News Editor Comments: When choosing a chocolate bar, get the “darkest” chocolate possible. The highest percentage of “dark” chocolate also has the lowest percentage of sugar. Organic and fair trade is important as well, as Sayer mentions below. Finally, make your own healthy chocolate with organic cocoa powder, organic honey, and coconut […]

Why chocolate is good for the heart – The scientific evidence

by David Rostollan
(NaturalNews) Chocolate. It’s bad for us, right? Not even close. The list of cardiovascular benefits from cocoa consumption is extensive and well-documented in the medical literature. In addition to this, a recent 2011 study in theJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistryhas shed new light on a mechanism that helps to explain some […]