 Email this article to a friend  Printable Version FREE Email Newsletter
(NaturalNews) A new study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association has added legitimacy to the healthy image portrayed by Mars' CocoaVia nutritional chocolate bar, as the bars' were found to actively lower cholesterol levels in human test subjects.
University of California-Davis researchers tested the cholesterol levels of 67 men and women who had been diagnosed with high cholesterol, and then split them into two groups. The first group ate a CocoaVia bar -- which contains 1.5 grams of plant sterols -- twice a day, while the second group consumed an equivalent placebo. The CocoaVia group had reduced their total cholesterol by 4.7 percent and their LDL levels by an average of 6 percent after six weeks.
High LDL cholesterol levels increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, which is responsible for almost 50 percent of all deaths in Europe, and costs the EU roughly $202 billion every year.
“Heart health is a national public health priority and our study supports that offering consumers a great tasting, lower calorie chocolate snack product with plant sterols, like CocoaVia bars, can be a practical and enjoyable dietary strategy,” said Mars research scientist Dr. Catherine Kwik-Uribe.
Mars' parent company, Masterfoods U.S., uses a patented process called Cocoapro to extract naturally occurring antioxidant flavonols from cocoa beans, and has been conducting research such as this for more than 15 years. However, the company has come under fire from the FDA recently for the health claims made on its CocoaVia labels. The administration sent a warning letter to Masterfoods U.S. in June noting that it had concerns about the "healthy" marketing of a product so high in saturated fat, although the letter did not contend the chocolate's high antioxidant flavonol content.
"I think it's fantastic that the Mars company is seriously investigating the many health benefits of chocolate," explained Mike Adams, a frequent critic of junk food manufacturers and author of "How to Halt Diabetes in 25 Days." "Chocolate really does help lower cholesterol. I would only urge consumers to remember that most Mars products are made with refined sugars and other less-than-healthful ingredients.
"If people want the full health benefits from chocolate, without the negative health consequences of eating processed sugar products, they should eat raw cacao nibs or blend their own chocolate smoothies using a Vitamix," he said.
###
Get articles like this delivered to you FREE in our popular email newsletter
|
(FREE) Thursday evening, Nov. 12 at 6pm Pacific (9pm Eastern), call in to hear the NaturalNews Talk Hour with special guest Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn - "Making Yourself Heart Attack Proof" Register via email to receive call-in number:
|
|
Explore NaturalPedia.com, the internet's largest natural health encyclopedia of knowledge, covering over 50,000 topics. It's free!
Visit NaturalPedia.com.
|
 FREE Report: The Five Best Anti-Viral Products to Beat Influenza, Swine Flu, Bird Flu and SARS
• Top anti-viral remedies
• Where to get them now
• Four things to avoid
• Become self-reliant
• Boost your family safety
Click here to read the FREE report now.
|
W.H.O. Declares Global Pandemic
Turn FEAR into Confidence!
Listen to the complete 3.5 hour recording on 4 audio CDs of the Health Ranger's Swine Flu Advanced Preparedness Course, covering natural anti-virals, family safety, infrastructure disruptions, quarantine, preparedness gear and much more.
Testimonials:
"Mike Adams' preparedness course turned our fears into confidence. This is POWERFUL information, coming from a trusted source. If you want to save yourself countless hours researching and getting prepared and if you want to do everything in your power to protect your family, I highly recommend the Health Ranger’s Advanced Preparedness Course."
- N. Nelson (Arizona)
"This is packed information no one should miss."
- T. Valenzuela
"Thanks Mike... during this class you covered prevention and preparedness from A to Z with integrity, brave honesty and outstanding knowledge! Thank you for your steadfast, thorough and cool-headed approach to well being. With deep gratitude for your service." - Bev
Available NOW for immediate shipping.
100% satisfaction guarantee
 NEW Product: Valley of Longevity Shampoo from the Health Ranger
• 98% Organic
• 100% Natural
• 100% Fragrance Free!
• No SLS
• No Parabens
• No synthetic chemicals
• FREE shipping in U.S. on orders over $75
Click here to read more...
|
|
|
Email this article to a friend
Share this article on: 
