Planning to Give Sweets to Your Sweetie? Some Types of Dark Chocolate a Little Healthier than Others

Before buying that box of chocolates for your Valentine, it is important to understand the type of chocolate to buy if you are looking for health benefits, according to Brian Lindshield, Kansas State University assistant professor of human nutrition.

Lindshield said dark chocolate can be good for you — but it depends on how the chocolate is processed.

“The whole idea behind chocolate being beneficial comes from the Kuna who live on a remote island off of Panama,” Lindshield said. “The Kuna people have a unique diet, and one of the reasons scientists were interested in them is because they are one of the only populations that does not develop high blood pressure.”

Generally, as Americans age, blood pressure rises, which results in many developing the chronic high blood pressure condition known as hypertension, Lindshield said. However, when researchers studied the Kuna, they found that their blood pressure did not increase as they aged. Scientists also studied Kuna who had moved off the remote island to Panama City and found that after they moved, their blood pressure increased as they aged, more like most other populations in the world.

“Clearly, there was something that they were doing on the island that was resulting in lower blood pressure,” Lindshield said. “What researchers found was the Kuna’s cocoa consumption on the island was huge compared to when they moved off the island. We’re not talking chocolate, we’re talking cocoa powder, which is super bitter.”

That bitterness is due to compounds found in cocoa called flavinols which have been attributed to lowering blood pressure, Lindshield said.

The problem with most chocolates, however, is that most of their flavinols are destroyed during processing.

This is why only organic, raw cacao powder is used in BōKU® Super Food.  We want to retain all of the mineral and antioxidant (flavinol) health benefits of chocolate.

Article Source: http://www.physorg.com/news184874071.html

Who doesn’t love chocolate? And why not, it’s rich in minerals, antioxidants and it makes one feel as great as it tastes. Here’s a great way to enjoy chocolate and get all of the health benefits without any processed unhealthy ingredients. Now that sounds delicious!

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons agave
• 1.5 cups of Thai coconut water (or substitute with purified water and add some extra agave)
• 1 avocado (make sure it is fully ripe)
• 2 tablespoons cacao powder
• 1 tablespoon cold-pressed coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon Boku superfood powder

Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth or desired consistency.

Chill before serving.

This dessert is a real treat for pudding lovers or anyone who likes chocolate but also appreciates a light treat that doesn’t weigh one down after a large meal. Your guests will appreciate the great taste, and you can have fun revealing to them the healthy ingredients you used to make this sumptuous pudding. Totally smooth, creamy, fabulous!