making organic chocolate

Chocolate - Friend or Foe?

Well here is something different from Fitness by Phone!

Like most of you I love chocolate, but did you know good chocolate is heart healthy plus has a host of other benefits? It was noticed in the 1600's that it reduced angina and heart pain...

I am not talking about the run of the mill chocolate from Coles or Woolies here.

Milk chocolate particularly is full of sugar, and often that is high fructose corn syrup, a known cause of health problems. And often too it is "Dutch' processed. To make the chocolate dark and get rid of the acid/bitter taste an alakali is added.

In fact lots of "dark" choclates are just dutched and have added sugar to boot...

Result? A sticky mess that clogs your arteries because it is so high in fat and sugar!!! However, there is "real" chocolate available that can deliver real health benefits...

In fact, the list of our cocoa beans health lifting powers just keeps growing. Research indicates that its active ingredients can help the following conditions '

- High blood pressure - Stroke - Clogged arteries - Heart disease - Infectious diseses - Dementia - Prostate and lung cancer - Blood clots - Liver problems - Inflammation - Allergies - Asthma

There is another benefit researchers have discovered.

As you may know one of the big problems with type II diabetes is the way it cuts down blood circulation to extremities.

When I was in the heart ward of the Gold Coast Hospital for nine days back in early 2006, I was amazed at how bad the legs and feet of some of those blokes were. (Most were diabetes sufferers and they were in there with heart problems as a result). A couple of them were looking at amputations according to the doctors, on top of all their other problems. Yuk.

My ears pricked up when I heard of a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology discovered that cocoa significantly enhances blood flow in folks with type II diabetes (Balzer et al. "Sustained Benefits in Vascular Function Through Flavanol-Containing Cocoa in Medicated Diabetic Patients: A Double-Masked, Randomized, Controlled Trial." Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2008. 51:2141-2149)

In that study, researchers divided diabetes sufferers into 2 groups - one group had 1000 mg of cocoa a day (in three doses a day) and the other 25 mg.

At the end of one month, the higher cocoa groups circulation had normalised (from "severly impaired") while the low cocoa group had no changes.

I discovered the way it works is this - the cocoa improves the nitric oxide output. The effect is to cause blood vessels to relax and open up to improve circulation. This effectively drops blood pressure and helps deliver oxygen and nutrients more afficiently...

Pure chocolate delivers these benefits. When I say pure I mean cacao bean only - no fluff or fillers like added sugar or fat...

If you can get it, the pure bean is best. The way it is usually supplied is as "nibs". What's a nib? If you open a cacao pod, you find a sort of bean or "nib". If you want to use chocolate as a health supplement (and who wouldn't?) then you have to eat the beans only.

To my knowledge there is only one way to get pure organic cacao bean "nibs".

Dagoba Chocolate nibs (which can be obtained cheaply in Austrlaia here) are just lightly roasted organic cacao beans and coarsely ground. You sprinkle them onto cereals etc, on salads (you've had pine nuts on salad right?) or snack on from the pack. They are a little bitter, but still nice enough for my taste.

It isn't hard to eat a gram a day, which is all you need to get the benefits...

Speaking of which, here are some other reasons to eat cacao bean nibs.

There is a class of chemicals called "flavonoids". They are actually a poisonous anti-microbial substance, used by the producing plant to fight disease in itself. They are not an antioxidant as first thought. Latest research indicates they are recognised by your body as a toxin, and it tries to eliminate them. (Lotito SB, Frei B. "Consumption of flavonoid-rich foods and increased plasma antioxidant capacity in humans: cause, consequence, or epiphenomenon?" 2006. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 41(12):1727'46.)

Flavonoids are found in fruits and vegetables, coffee, tea, beer and red wine. But cacao has them in the highest concentrations. (Lee et al. "Cocoa Has More Phenolic Phytochemicals and a Higher Antioxidant Capacity than Teas and Red Wine." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2003. 51:7292-7295.)

How does a poison help you stay well then? Flavonoids activate special enzymes and uric acid production. Together these compounds change your body's response to allergens, tends to disable some cancer cells and cancer causing agents, and flush other dangerous substances out of your system (at the same time it is trying to get rid of the flavonoids). Mind you, if your liver is over stressed (being the main way your body gets rid of toxins) then the benefits will not be as pronounced. I have other articles which cover this problem.

So there you have it... another heart healthy treat from nature that reverses or prevents a number of life threatening conditions.

Navitas Naturals Organic Raw Chocolate Powder, Cacao Power, Mayan Superfood, 16-Ounce Pouch (Pack of 2) List Price: $37.24 Sale Price: $25.56 You save: $11.68 (31%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description King of cacao. Raw chocolate - the new red wine. Cacao is increasingly being consumed for its nutritive and health enhancing properties as it has been in many cultures for thousands of years. Cocoa beans (theobroma cacao/raw chocolate) are the source for all chocolate and cocoa products. Our certified organic, raw cacao is the premium criollo variety. Theobroma literally means food of the goods - so called from the goodness of the seeds and Mexican named the pounded seeds chocolate cacao is increasingly being consumed for its nutritive and health-enhancing properties, as it has been in many cultures for thousands of years. Cacao contains many chemicals that enhance physician and mental well-being, including an incredibly rich supply of magnesium. Other essential minerals present in Cacao are calcium, zinc, iron, copper and potassium. Cacao also contains more antioxidant flavonoids than red wine, green tea and blueberries. Navitas Naturals vegan cacao nibs are unprocessed, certified organic, raw, peeled cacao beans. Our premium cacao beans come directly from the farmers who cultivate them. These farmers grow their crops on their own land, using sustainable methods that have been used for generations. These cacao beans are guaranteed to be free of heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides. USDA organic. Certified organic by Skal International. Imported form Peru. Packed in the USA. Features Pack of 2 (total 32 oz) Made from pure, 100% natural cacao powder Certified organic, vegan; a good source of minerals such as magnesium, iron, copper, and calcium Mix into chocolate ice cream, smoothies, or yogurt; an antioxidant-rich supplement with antiseptic, diuretic and soothing properties Navitas Naturals products come directly from the farmers who cultivate them and are free of heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides

Baking with Agave Nectar: Over 100 Recipes Using Nature's Ultimate Sweetener List Price: $15.99 Sale Price: $10.32 You save: $5.67 (35%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Even before its health benefits were being touted on Oprah's daytime show, agave nectar was finding fans among dessert lovers seeking to reduce or eliminate processed sugar in their diets. In BAKING WITH AGAVE NECTAR, natural foods chef Ania Catalano shows how to creatively integrate this up-and-coming natural sugar substitute into every sweet tooth's repertoire through a variety of delectable recipes. From breakfast goodies (Pumpkin Muffins, Stuffed French Toast) to cookies (Chewy Double Chocolate Meringue) to desserts (Bread Pudding Soufflés with Bourbon Sauce, Pear Frangipane Tart), Catalano makes agave nectar accessible and appealing to health-conscious bakers of all levels. Features ISBN13: 9781587613210 Condition: New Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Wilton Chocolate Pro Electric Melting Pot List Price: $32.99 Sale Price: $25.71 You save: $7.28 (22%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description The fast and easy way to melt chocolate & Candy Melts®*! With the Chocolate Pro™ , it's easy to melt large amounts of chocolate or Candy Melts brand confectionery coating in minutes! It's the fast and fun way to mold candies like a pro. Holds 2 1/2 cups Features Electric pot melts chocolate or Candy Melts confectionery coating in 10 minutes or less Removable nonstick pot holds up to 2-1/2 cups at a time; warm and melt modes No microwave or double-boiler needed; "on" indicator light; drip-free pouring spout Large open handle; stay-cool base for safety; non-skid feet; wash by hand; UL-listed Measures approximately 5-1/2 by 10-1/2 by 8-2/5 inches

Bob's Red Mill All Natural Whey Protein Concentrate, 12-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4) List Price: $51.52 Sale Price: $40.25 You save: $11.27 (22%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description All Natural. Whey protein is a high quality complete protein containing all of the essential amino acids required by the body for strength and muscle development. It is a great way of increasing protein intake without adding excessive carbohydrates and fat. It dissolves instantly so it 's great for making high protein shakes and smoothies! All natural. You can see our quality. Features Case of four 12-ounce packages (48 total ounces) Made from 100% all-natural whey protein High-quality complete protein Dissolves quickly in shakes and smoothies, or use for baking Packaged in Milwaukie, Oregon

Bali Truly Raw Cacao Butter, 9oz - Big Tree Farms Sale Price: $14.95   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Cacao Butter is what white chocolate is made of! Our raw, certified organic, chemical-free cacao butter is the pure oil of the cacao bean. Cacao Butter (Organic, Raw) 1lb Ingredients: Certified Organic Raw Cacao Butter (Vegan.) Contains no chemicals, no hexane and no solvents. Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Our raw organic cacao butter has a high level of stability and a long shelf-life (over a year). Suggested Uses: Cacao butter is edible and possesses an extraordinary rich, delicate chocolate aroma. Add a piece of this butter to your favorite smoothie, dessert, ice cream or chocolate creation. Because it has not been damaged by heat, our cacao butter melts easily and blends nicely into any type of recipe. Cacao Butter makes a great dessert when mixed with coconut oil, agave and cacao. Cacao Butter may be used as a skin moisturizer. It may be used as (or in conjunction with) a massage oil. What is Raw Cacao Butter? Our Cacao butter is created through a proprietary cold-pressed method. This process begins by cold-pressing the organic Cacao Nibs into a "cake" in such a way that the oil begins to separate from the protein and fiber. The temperature is never allowed to exceed (or even reach) 120 degrees Fahrenheit and is usually 104 degrees Fahrenheit (all other cacao butters are exposed to temperatures as high as 300 degrees Fahrenheit!) A high-accuracy thermometer is used throughout processing. Slowly, the pure, liquid cacao butter begins to sift off into a stainless steel valve that takes the cacao butter into a separate container where it is allowed to solidify in an attractive shape and packaged for shipment! Cacao butter melts at approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius.) Features Certified Organic Vegan and Raw No chemicals, no hexane, no solvents Packed with Nutrition 100% pure love. 100% pure sensual joy

Ghirardelli Chocolate Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6) List Price: $27.24 Sale Price: $23.56 You save: $3.68 (14%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips are a carefully balanced blend of the finest ingredients, including real cocoa butter, unsweetened chocolate, and just the right touch of sugar. Features Ghirardelli Chocolate Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, 12-Ounce Bags in a pack of 12 1,000 count is the standard baking chip size Made with quality ingredients to product the best taste

Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, Gluten, Dairy & Soy Free, 10-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6) Sale Price: $39.99 See Reviews For This Product Description Rich, smooth and craveable, our chocolate chips are the perfect addition to any recipe. Free of dairy, soy and gluten, these semi-sweet chips satisfy everyone's chocolate cravings. Enjoy them in your favorite cookie or dessert recipe or by the handful! At Enjoy Life, our whole business is making smile-good foods that keep people’s insides happy. We believe everyone has the right to enjoy a wholesome snack, that's why we've made these Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips free of gluten, dairy and soy. We're passionate about making great-tasting foods that most everyone can eat freely. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips are gluten free and free of the 8 most common allergens: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish. This product was manufactured in a dedicated gluten-free and nut-free bakery. It is also made without other common triggers of intolerance: corn, potato, sulfites sesame and casein. So please enjoy our tasty Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips! Features Pack of six, 10-ounce bags (total of 60 ounces) Certified gluten free No wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish or shellfish also made without casein, potato, sesame and sulfites No trans fat or cholesterol, certified kosher, vegan - no preservatives, all natural Made in a dedicated nut- and gluten-free bakery Contains evaporated cane juice, chocolate liquor, and non-dairy cocoa butter Soy free, semi sweet chocolate chips

BabyCakes: Vegan, (Mostly) Gluten-Free, and (Mostly) Sugar-Free Recipes from New York's Most Talked-About Bakery List Price: $24.00 Sale Price: $13.20 You save: $10.80 (45%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Forget everything you’ve heard about health-conscious baking. Simply, BabyCakes is your key to an enlightened, indulgent, sweets-filled future. This is important news not only for parents whose children have allergies, for vegans, and for others who struggle with food sensitivities, but also for all you sugar-loving traditionalists. The recipes in these pages prove that there is a healthy alternative to recklessly made desserts, one that doesn't sacrifice taste or texture.Having experimented endlessly with alternative, health-conscious sweeteners, flours, and thickeners, Erin McKenna, the proprietress of beloved bakery BabyCakes NYC, developed these recipes–most are gluten-free, all are without refined sugar–in hopes of combating her own wheat, dairy, and sugar sensitivities. In BabyCakes, she shares detailed information about the ingredients she uses (coconut flour, xanthan gum, and agave nectar, for example) and how to substitute them properly for common ones–all the while guiding you safely through techniques she’s spent years perfecting. When BabyCakes NYC opened on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 2005, it helped propel the gluten-free and vegan baking movement into a new stratosphere. Suddenly there was a destination for those with wheat allergies and other dietary restrictions–and, soon enough, celebrities and dessert lovers of every kind–to indulge freely in delectable muffins and teacakes, brownies and cookies, pies and cobblers.Enclosed within these pages are all the “secrets” you’ll need to bring the greatness of BabyCakes NYC into your own home as well as raves and recommendations from devotees such as Natalie Portman, Jason Schwartzman, Mary-Louise Parker, Zooey Deschanel, and Pamela Anderson.For confectionists of all kinds, delicious alternatives lie within: Red Velvet Cupcakes, Chocolate Shortbread Scones with Caramelized Bananas, Strawberry Shortcake, and BabyCakes NYC’s celebrated frosting (so delicious it has fans tipping back frosting shots!), to name just a few. Finally, Erin’s blissful desserts are yours for the baking! Features ISBN13: 9780307408839 Condition: New Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

GoNaturally Organic Honey Gluten Free Hard Candies, 3.5-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6) List Price: $19.20 Sale Price: $14.03 You save: $5.17 (27%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description GoNaturally Organic Hard Candy Honey, 3.5-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)made by hand in America. Features USDA Certified Organic, Made by Hand in America, Gluten Free Natural Flavors and Colors

Torani Original Mocha Sauce, Chocolate, 16.5-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6) List Price: $29.10 Sale Price: $22.50 You save: $6.60 (23%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Since 1925. For rich caffe mochas. Enjoy the coffeehouse experience at home with Torani Chocolate specialty sauce, the secret ingredient in the classic caffe mocha. You are just moments away from your favorite indulgent coffee drink. Made in the USA. Features Case of six 16.5ounce bottles Chocolate sauce for flavoring coffee/espresso drinks, making hot chocolate, topping desserts All-natural ingredients Includes real butter and heavy cream Made in South San Francisco, CA

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