Chocolate – good for you? Show me the evidence!!

Submitted by support on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 20:28

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Chocolate – good for you? Show me the evidence!! (click here for more)

Modern day chocolate, processed, loaded with cocoa butter, sugars, fats, chemicals for shelf life, etc., is horrific. We know that and we have learned for many years that chocolate contributes hugely to obesity, diabetes, heart and artery issues – so how can it be good for you?

Many companies claim that their chocolate is good because it is cold pressed – but this can be very misleading because if it is dutch processed, while cold pressed, it has still lost it’s anti-oxidant value. In fact, processing chocolate can eliminate between 60-80% of just the anti-oxidants alone!!!

Grown organically and cold pressed properly, chocolate provides a wide ranges of minerals, vitamins, bioflavonoids, and anti-oxidants that have been proven to provide a huge variety of beneficial contributions to the body without the harmful effects of the processed chocolates that contain sugars, fats and chemicals that are hugely harmful.

Cold pressed chocolate, and in particular, Xocai chocolate, has been evidenced to aid in the following:

artheriosclerosis
cancer
cellular energy
depression
diabetes
DNA regulation
energy levels
eye health
heart & arterial health
immune health
liver health
oxidative stress & inflammation
respiratory health
and much more - lets find out why

The following is a large menu of all the nutrients found in Xocai chocolate and a short list of what each of the nutrients provides in the body. For more information, contact Dr Holly at holly@choicesunlimited.ca.

The properties in raw cacao provide you with:

Minerals:

Calcium : required for a healthy heart, circulatory system, blood pressure, bones, teeth & hair
Copper : aids in helping the blood vessels, nerves, immune system, and bones stay healthy
Iron : required in red blood cells (uptake/release of oxygen/C02);
o required in blood protein transport systems: hemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochrome P450,
o required in enzymes: catalase, lipoxygenases, IRE-BP
Manganese : required for metabolizing cholesterol, proteins & carbohydrates
Magnesium : required for over 380 known enzymes processes in every cell of the body
o required for muscle relaxation
o transportation of energy
o formation of protien
Phosphorus : is required to make the membrane of and the fuel (ATP) for every cell;
o works closely with Calcium; helps filter blood waste in the kidneys;
o which in turn helps to balance other vitamins and minerals in your body
o to make DNA & RNA in every cell
Zinc : stabilize cell walls; aids in the activity of the immune system

Vitamins:

Thiamine (vitamin B1): required in every cell to convert carbohydrates into energy:
Krebs cycle
o of particular importance to the heart & central nervous system because of the high oxidative stress component
o deficiencies associated with diabetes, heart issues, gastrointestinal diseases
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) : important to every cell ;
o energy (Krebs cycle/electron transfer chain/ATP)
o co-enzyme for B6, B9
o fatty acid oxidation
o re-stabilization of glutathione
o helps make red blood cells
Niacin (Vitamin B3) : helps to increase HDL and lower LDLs
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) : converts to niacin
o works as an anti-inflammatory agent
o works as an anti-anxiety agent
o metabolism of: glucose, amino acids, fatty acids
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) : involved in metabolizing carbohydrates, protiens & lipids
o important in maintaining a healthy skin
o works with the adrenal glands to increase production of cortisone and other adrenal homrones
o required to produce CoA which is involved in of key biological roles
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) : required to make various immune cells, red blood cells
o required in amino acid metabolism
o required in sugar metabolism, ie., gluconeogenesis
o required in fat/lipid metabolism
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) : works as an anti-oxidant (glutathione re-stabilizes it once it gives away an electron)
repairs damage and contributes to making collagens: bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels,
Vitamin E : protects fats from becoming free radicals
o protects cell membranes from oxidation (free radicals)
o important to eye health
o important in making red blood cells
o important in absorbing vitamin K

Anit-oxidants: one group are flavonoids (Vitamin P) : 2 subgroups: flavonols and catechins

Catechins :

Reduce atherosclerotic leisons
Inhibits oxidation of LDLs (that is when LDLs become harmful)

Selective MAOIs (the synthethic form is used as an anti-depressant)
- could also be used in the treatment of Parkinson’s & Alzheimers’
- Increases expression of several DNA – which contribute to reducing oxidative stress, metabolism, differenentiation, transcription & development
Involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics: drugs, anti-biotics
Involved in cell apoptosis: which aids in breaking down tumors
Anti-oxidants; protect the brain from damage after strokes
Provides protection from allergies by preventing histamine: conversion and release

Anthocyanins : laboratory based evidence provides evidence that they are benefit:

cancer :
stall the growth of malignant cells
they are able to turn off genes involved with:

proliferation (rate of growth in tumor cells)
inflammation
angiogenesis (creation of new blood/nutrient supplies to tumors)
switch on apoptosis (cell death) in tumors)
minimize cancer induced DNA damage
aging & neurological diseases

inflammation : reduce inflammation mediators

diabetes
bacterial infection

The experimental evidence demonstrating anthocyanin benefits for diabetes and pancreatic disorders has also accumulated in recent years, and again the efficacy is attributed to the multiple, simultaneous biological effects these pigments cause in the body, including prevention of generation of free radicals, decreased lipid peroxidation, reduced pancreatic swelling, and decreased blood sugar concentrations in urine and blood serum.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1082894/

Research has concentrated on the antioxidant capacity of berries and how anthocyanins can reduce the risk from diseases ranging from diabetes and dementia to stroke and heart disease. Information published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry explains that berry compounds have a significant biological activity that has been shown to be a powerful inhibitor of cancers of the digestive tract. http://www.naturalnews.com/032068_black_raspberries_cancer.html#ixzz1RlM...

Proanthocyanidins.

Foods rich in proanthocyanidins have high free radical absorbance capacity, which has been linked to numerous health benefits such as weight management, cell health, and cardiovascular health. http://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2userfiles/place/12354500/data/orac/orac07.pdf

The effects may include depressing blood fat, emolliating blood vessels, lowering blood pressure, preventing blood vessel scleroses, dropping blood viscidity and preventing thrombus formation. Murphy, Karen J.; Chronopoulos, Andriana K.; Singh, Indu; Francis, Maureen A.; Moriarty, Helen; Pike, Marilyn J.; Turner, Alan H.; Mann, Neil J. et al. (June 2003). "Dietary flavanols and procyanidin oligomers from cocoa (Theobroma cacao) inhibit platelet function". The American journal of clinical nutrition 77 (6): 1466–73

Other nutrients:

Fiber: soluble and non-soluble

promotes weight loss, help cleanse your body from toxins, lower blood pressure and cholesterol

Acai Berry: High in antioxidants, Omega, Vitamin A and fiber, anthocyanins

Xocai has one chocolate that combines both the cold pressed chocoloate with acai berry and blueberry for an incredibly high ORAC (anti-oxidant value).

For more information, contact: Dr Holly at holly@choicesunlimited.ca

Disclaimer: This site is provided for general information only, and is not a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or other health care professional. This site is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of this website. This site is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of such sites. Always consult your own health care practitioner.

References:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2userfiles/place/12354500/data/orac/orac07.pdf

http://www.naturalnews.com/032068_black_raspberries_cancer.html#ixzz1RlM...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1082894/

http://www.wikipedia/

Jankowski A, Jankowska B, Niedworok J. The effect of anthocyanin dye from grapes on experimental diabetes. Folia Med Cracov. 2000;41(3-4):5–15. [PubMed]

Murphy, Karen J.; Chronopoulos, Andriana K.; Singh, Indu; Francis, Maureen A.; Moriarty, Helen; Pike, Marilyn J.; Turner, Alan H.; Mann, Neil J. et al. (June 2003). "Dietary flavanols and procyanidin oligomers from cocoa (Theobroma cacao) inhibit platelet function". The American journal of clinical nutrition 77 (6): 1466–73

Pignatelli P, Pulcinelli F, Celestini A, et al. The flavonoids quercetin and catechin synergistically inhibit platelet function by antagonizing the intracellular production of hydrogen peroxide. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;72(5):1150–1155. [PubMed]

Shanmuganayagam D, Beahm M, Osman H, Krueger C, Reed J, Folts J. Grape seed and grape skin extracts elicit a greater antiplatelet effect when used in combination than when used individually in dogs and humans. J Nutr. 2002;132(12):3592–3598. [PubMed]

Chocolate – good for you? Show me the evidence!!