Healthy Chocolate comes with some of the most essential nutrients needed by most Americans. This is probably why we all have chocolate cravings.
The fruit of the cacao tree contains cacao seeds or beans. If you peel open a seed or bean, that’s where you’ll find the chocolate or chocolate nib.
Highest in Antioxidant Flavonoids
The highest amount of antioxidant flavonoids goes to low temperature treated and unprocessed chocolate. These antioxidants help to protect your body from the damaging effects of free radicals.
The Benefits of Flavonoids:
Helps prevent damage to your cells
Keeps blood clots from forming
Improves circulation
Lowers your risk of heart disease
Dark chocolate has quite a bit more antioxidant flavonoids than milk chocolate and raw chocolate would have the highest amounts.
Contains the Highest Magnesium Levels
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.
To keep your heart functioning at its best, you need a regular supply of magnesium. Americans are extremely deficient in this mineral and about 80% of us need to focus on adding more to our diets.
Healthy Fats
Chocolate is comprised of saturated fats as well as monounsaturated fats. The saturated fat in chocolate does not appear to raise your cholesterol levels.
The monounsaturated fatty acids found in chocolate is called oleic acid. Olive oil also contains this heart healthy monounsaturated fatty acid.
The Chemicals Found in Chocolate Make You Happy
Phenylethylamine and anandamide are the chemicals responsible for altering your brain chemistry.
Along with increasing your awareness, phenylethylamine produces a feeling very similar to the one you experience when you fall-in-love with someone.
Anandamide gives you a feeling of bliss. Chocolate increases the level of anandamide in your brain and its enzyme inhibitors slow its breakdown which promotes relaxation and feeling great.
Healthy Chocolate is Raw Cacao
When chocolate is raw or processed at a low temperature, it becomes a powerful super food that is loaded with great amounts of nutrients, minerals and vitamins.
It’s a great source of the minerals magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, calcium and potassium. You can also find vitamin E and B vitamins in this super food.
Raw chocolate or raw cacao is low in caffeine, but contains theobromine. This is the less stimulating sister molecule of caffeine.
Since chocolate has more of a stimulating effect when it is roasted or cooked, eating your chocolate raw could give you a much more pleasant experience.
To locate some of the best raw cacao and cacao smoothie ideas, go to Raw Cacao Powder. For important information on antioxidant rich foods visit Destination Healthy Foods.