Summary
Handcrafted chocolates from Bissinger's and researched by the University of Illinois contain six times the antioxidants of blueberries.
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http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/0/8EB82C8622452B4A86257060001B857E?OpenDocument
Details
New bite-sized candies from Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier have more than six times the antioxidants of blueberries, a fruit high in the disease-fighters, research by the University of Illinois for the company shows.
Bissinger's Naturals, filled with nuts and seeds, was launched last week at the Whole Foods Market in Brentwood.
"Four or five pieces are about 170 calories and really give you a lot of nice nutrition, a lot of nice benefits," said Kenneth Kellerhals, president of St. Louis-based Bissinger's.
Still, chocolate lovers shouldn't see this as an excuse to go wild, said a food scientist at the University of Illinois, who coordinated the antioxidant research for Bissinger's.
"You should still eat it in moderation," said Nicki Engeseth, associate professor of food chemistry.
"I'm not saying that you should substitute chocolate for all your fruits and vegetables."
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, contains antioxidants called flavonoids, Engeseth said.
Some studies show antioxidants work by protecting the body from free radicals that can increase the risk of developing heart disease and some cancers, she said.
Scientists have developed a process to indicate the level of antioxidant activity within a plant food and compare it with other foods.
The three new candy varieties - Sunflower Crunch, Black Sesame Crunch and Walnut Crunch - each have nutritional benefits aside from the chocolate, the company said.
On the other hand, customers either love or hate the black sesame candy, Morfogen said.
Those candies were designed to be eaten one-per-day and also contained ingredients believed to provide some health benefits, including dark
chocolate.
When Spa Chocolates entered the market, some critics, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, questioned whether the health claims were overstated.
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Friday, August 26, 2005
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