Healthy Chocolate - A Healthy Treat that Tastes Great

By Kathryn Barry

Healthy Chocolate comes in many shapes and forms these days. It is loaded with some of the most essential nutrients and this may be why we have been so obsessed with chocolate for so many years.

Chocolate comes from the fruit of the cacao tree. This fruit contains cacao seeds or beans and inside the bean is where you'll find the chocolate.

Highest in Antioxidant Flavonoids

Low temperature treated chocolate contains the most antioxidant flavonoids of any other food found on this planet. These antioxidant flavonoids protect you from free radicals that are responsible for aging you.

Antioxidant Flavonoid Health Benefits:

Repairs free radical damage

Reduces blood clotting

Improves circulation

Helps prevent heart disease

Raw chocolate has the highest amount of antioxidant flavonoids. Dark chocolate has a good amount and beats milk chocolate hands down.

Highest Amount of Magnesium

Healthy Chocolate is a great way to help balance your brain chemistry during that time of the month or any time of the month. Women seem to crave chocolate more then men and this could be due to a need for the mineral magnesium.

Women aren't the only ones who need magnesium as the majority of Americans are quite deficient in this important mineral. It is vital for the regulation of your blood pressure and for the health of your heart.

Beneficial Fatty Acids

The fats found in chocolate are called saturated and monounsaturated fats. It appears that chocolate is a heart healthy food and will not raise your cholesterol levels.

Chocolate's monounsaturated fat contains a powerful fatty acid called oleic acid which is also found in olive oil.

The Chemicals Found in Chocolate Make You Happy

The chemicals that affect your brain chemistry are called anandamide and phenylethylamine.

Along with increasing your awareness, phenylethylamine produces a feeling very similar to the one you experience when you fall-in-love with someone.

Anandamide levels increase in your brain with the consumption of chocolate. This chemical produces a feeling of relaxation and just makes you feel good.

Raw is the Best Healthy Chocolate

In its raw and unadultered state, chocolate is actually a valuable and potent super food. Chocolate processed at low temperatures protects its nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Magnesium is the most abundant, but also present are minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, calcium and potassium. Along with these minerals there are B vitamins and vitamin E.

You will not find much caffeine in raw chocolate. What you will find is the sister molecule of caffeine which is called theobromine.

It has been shown that when your consume your chocolate raw there is a much less stimulating effect than when you eat cooked or roasted chocolate. - 17269

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To find some of the greatest tasting low temperature treated chocolate treats, Click Here. You can find more antioxidant rich foods by checking out Destination Healthy Foods.