Dark Chocolate Is One Of The World’s Healthiest Foods
Although there are so many different varieties of chocolate to pick from the healthiest choice is the darker chocolate. Dark chocolate is antioxidant-rich and has a much higher concentration of natural flavonoids than any other chocolate. Dark chocolate has (65% more cocoa content) than milk chocolate or white chocolate, which is why it’s a healthier choice. Darker chocolate contains more anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. There are many reasons to eat more dark chocolate and here is why.
History On Chocolate
The history of chocolate was known to be around 1500BC. The Olmec Indians, a Pre Columbian culture that was generally located in south-central Mexico at the time, rendered their cocoa beans as one of the most native crops.
Mayan and Aztec cultures became aware of the indigenous plant known as the cocoa bean. Around the 16th century, Mayan nobles brought cocoa along with them in jars when they first visited Europe. They introduced it to western civilization for the first time. Chocolate was presented and shared with Europe and then the rest of the world.
The cocoa plant is relatively a tropical plant. The plant is mostly harvested in countries known as the Ivory Coast and Ghana, also processed by vendors in meager places in South America and Africa. The cocoa seed is a nut from an Amazonian plant, which is harvested multiple times a year this is done by being hand-picked or using a machete.
Cacao The Food Of The Gods
A Swedish scientist named, Carl von Linnaeus in the 18th century found out how valuable cacao was and the importance of the plant so he named the genus and species of the native plant. The name of this plant is Theobroma cacao, which was interpenetrated as “Cacao, the food of the gods.”
Benefits Of The Cocoa Bean
Raw cocoa is one of the healthiest superfoods that is packed full of high amounts of antioxidants and mineral content. The cocoa bean has the highest antioxidant content of any other food in the world. By weight, cocoa is suggested to contain more antioxidants than acai, blueberries, goji berries pomegranates, and red wine altogether.
Stock up on antioxidants and protect yourself from free radicals. The nutrients are helpful to prevent premature aging and chronic illnesses. Chocolate contains high levels of amino acids which are building blocks to protein synthesis, dopamine, adrenal functions, and mental awareness. Chocolate also is suggested to have healthy fat content and fiber. Eating more dark chocolate can benefit the cardiovascular system, reduce symptoms of cramps (PMS), reduce symptoms of osteoporosis, and help prevent cancer cells.
The purest type of chocolate you should consume is the one that is least processed and the darkest of them all. If you love to eat sweets as I do, you should know that eating chocolate not only tastes good but it offers such great value of rich antioxidants and minerals. The natural phytonutrients help in boosting your overall mood, body, adrenal functionality, and health. Eat more dark chocolate in the rawest form you can find.
There are so many types of chocolate, listed from least processed to most processed are:
- Raw chocolate
- Unsweetened chocolate
- Bittersweet chocolate
- Semisweet chocolate
- Milk chocolate
- White chocolate
Healthy Tip: Buy organic, or locally from farmers’ markets to ensure your getting your chocolate from the closest source. If your strictly vegan like me, you can always scan the ingredients (since chocolate should only have a few) to make sure the ingredients do not have whey or casein which are a milk derivative.
Sources:
“Facts About Chocolate, One of the World’s Healthiest Foods.” 09 Feb. 2017. Antioxidants for Health and Longevity. N.p., n.d. Web.
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