Chocolate news, articles and information:

Seven reasons eating dark chocolate supports healthy living

7/20/2016 - Chocolate has been a long-time favorite of children and adults alike to satisfy a sweet tooth or cure a broken heart. In the early day's chocolate was seen as a mood-enhancing aphrodisiac and symbol of luxury and power only available to the wealthiest of people. Once touted as the "food of Gods"...

Why chocolate helps you sleep better: Cacao nutrient found to regulate your biological clock for a full night's sleep

4/20/2016 - It's unlikely that you need another excuse to eat more chocolate, but a recent report by the Daily Mail states that among the many other benefits of eating dark chocolate, it can also help you to get a good night's sleep. Dark chocolate is richer in nutrients than milk or white chocolate, and is particularly...

Chocolate is actually GOOD for pregnant women (just make sure you find some that's low in cadmium)

3/14/2016 - Could that enticing chocolate bar be the key to a healthy pregnancy? A new study out of Canada suggests so, revealing that regular intake of both low- and high-flavonol chocolate may help reduce a woman's risk of preeclampsia, a condition marked by an unusual jump in blood pressure that puts her and...

Hot chocolate for brain health? This warm beverage can actually improve your memory

2/26/2016 - Most people will agree that there are few experiences more enjoyable than relaxing with a nice cup of hot chocolate – especially on those cold and dreary winter days. But did you know that there are other benefits associated with the popular beverage, besides its rich flavor and comforting...

How dark chocolate really is the 'food of the gods': fights inflammation, cancer, Alzheimer's and more

2/14/2016 - Chocolate comes from the cacao plant, which has the species name Theobroma cacao. "Theobroma" literally means "drink of the gods." This name was originally inspired by cocoa's history as a luxury beverage consumed by the elites of first Mesoamerica and then Europe. But in recent decades, research...

Top five best organic chocolates for Valentine's Day!

2/13/2016 - Valentine's Day is a chance to spoil the one you love – but if the one you love is health conscious, it can be a little bit more difficult to find the perfect gift. Dark chocolate has many health benefits, but of course there are some varieties that are better than others. Some types of chocolate...

Wine and chocolates? Why Valentine's Day is actually the healthiest holiday!

2/12/2016 - Dating all the way back to the 5th century, with even older roots in a traditional Roman holiday, the day of romance and love we call Valentine's Day has been around for as long as we can remember. Every year, on February 14, more than 141 million Valentine cards are exchanged between lovers and friends...

Western chocolate corporations causing new 'Dust Bowl' in third-world countries with destructive cacao farming practices

1/27/2016 - The effects of the Western World's less-than-ideal way of farming, coupled with its need for greed, are being felt in countries across the globe – and that's definitely not a good thing. In particular, cacao farmers are left scratching their heads, frantically searching for a way to meet a surge...

Eating chocolate can protect you from heart attacks and strokes

7/6/2015 - Chocolate lovers, rejoice: researchers have found that eating chocolate can have a positive impact on your health. In a study involving nearly 158,000 men and women, they determined that a correlation existed between the consumption of chocolate and a diminished risk of stroke and heart attacks. While...

Dark chocolate increases attention and alertness while improving blood flow

5/15/2015 - There is some good news for the chocolate lovers out there: a new study carried out by researchers from Northern Arizona University reveals that the intake of dark chocolate with at least 60 percent cacao could be the key to improving attention and alertness and get you through the afternoon slump. "Chocolate...

Why you should enjoy some healthy chocolate this Thanksgiving (recipes included)

11/26/2014 - Mention chocolate to anyone, especially during the holidays, and they are all ears. Nothing seems to bring on such a feeling of mental euphoria than a good dose of chocolate. However, the benefits of chocolate are hit and miss depending on the source, additives, and processing. This is why a high...

Craving a chocolate bar? Try this simple cocoa-licious recipe instead!

11/26/2014 - Chocolate goodies can be so incredibly tempting! Unfortunately, most commercial candy bars and treats are full of less-than-ideal ingredients. So why not try making your own chocolate treats, instead? It's the best way to control the quality of your ingredients! Even a novice in the kitchen can easily...

Excessive amounts of lead, cadmium found in Brazilian chocolate

9/12/2014 - The heart-health benefits of chocolate are well documented in the scientific literature. But a new review by scientists from the University of Campinas in Brazil casts a shadow on commercial chocolate as a safe source for obtaining these benefits, having found that many of the chocolate products sold...

Dark chocolate found to benefit walking ability of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD)

7/19/2014 - According to a small study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, people with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) were able to walk longer distances unassisted after consuming dark chocolate as opposed to mere milk chocolate.(1) Polyphenols, which are chemicals that are found in a range...

Dark chocolate found to enhance blood flow to legs

7/9/2014 - In addition to its other proven health benefits, dark chocolate may also improve the health of peripheral arteries, enhance blood flow to the legs and improve walking ability, according to a study conducted by researchers from Sapienza University of Rome and published in the Journal of the American...

Chocolate production begins by harvesting, fermenting, drying and then roasting the pods of the cacao tree

5/12/2014 - Chocolate is made not, strictly speaking, from the seeds of the cacao tree but from the entire seed pod. To make chocolate, the pods are broken open and the mix of seeds and mucilaginous pulp within is left in the sun for several days to ferment. Wild yeast partially digests the cell walls of the...

Yet another amazing benefit of eating dark chocolate

4/16/2014 - The list of health benefits attributed to eating dark chocolate continues to grow! Now, new research published in American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry indicates that dark chocolate can help prevent type 2 diabetes and even obesity! The scientists found that in mice...

Dark chocolate demonstrated to improve cardiovascular health by reducing systemic inflammation

4/15/2014 - Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the US and most western cultures, despite the overwhelming volumes of evidence that clearly demonstrate how this killer develops as a result of poor diet, lack of physical activity and a multitude of lifestyle digressions that have...

More good news for chocolate eaters - cocoa flavanols lower risk of obesity and diabetes

4/11/2014 4:43:36 PM - It should come as no big surprise to alternative health followers that many foods in their unprocessed form contain a host of protective compounds that have repeatedly been shown to promote human health. Fruits and vegetables contain flavonoids that protect vegetation from disease and pests, and many...

Chocolate's health effects to be tested by scientists over next four years

4/6/2014 - Much has been said about the health benefits of chocolate, and a new study set to take place over the next four years could help clarify whether or not all the hype surrounding this sweet treat is really substantiated. Sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), as well as Mars...

Chocolate generates anti-inflammatory nutrients in your gut

4/3/2014 - A team of researchers from Louisiana State University has made a fascinating new discovery with regard to the health benefits of chocolate. Announcing their findings at the recent 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society in Dallas, the group explained how beneficial bacteria...

Researchers investigate disease deflecting chocolate pill

3/29/2014 - A new study slated to begin this year at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston will measure the health effects of a dietary supplement made with concentrated cocoa flavanols. The study will involve 18,000 healthy volunteers and will last at least four years to determine if the supplement can prevent...

Chocolate might be the healthiest indulgence ever

3/7/2014 - Though many think of chocolate as a vice, it should be thought of as a health food. Why? Because chocolate is very high in many essential nutrients, appears to prevent heart disease and stroke, and can even decrease stress. Chocolate is mineral rich You might not intuitively think so, but chocolate...

Raw cacao beats processed chocolate in its health benefits

2/26/2014 - The plethora of research done on chocolate's tremendous health benefits has primarily studied raw cacao and processed dark chocolate. Raw foodies and experts argue that raw cacao contain all of the health inducing benefits left intact, while processing destroys much of the nutrients. Raw cacao also...

Raw cacao beats processed chocolate in its health benefits

2/26/2014 - The plethora of research done on chocolate's tremendous health benefits has primarily studied raw cacao and processed dark chocolate. Raw foodies and experts argue that raw cacao contain all of the health inducing benefits left intact, while processing destroys much of the nutrients. Raw cacao also...

Raw cacao beats processed chocolate in its health benefits

2/26/2014 - The plethora of research done on chocolate's tremendous health benefits has primarily studied raw cacao and processed dark chocolate. Raw foodies and experts argue that raw cacao contain all of the health inducing benefits left intact, while processing destroys much of the nutrients. Raw cacao also...

Is dark chocolate good for you?

2/18/2014 - Good news for chocolate lovers: eating a small square of dark chocolate daily can help improve your health in many ways. Not only dark chocolate is rich in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese and other minerals, it is also believed that the cocoa bean has potential benefits on cardiovascular health,...

How to best enjoy and buy delicious, healthy chocolate, with its fascinating healing history

2/12/2014 - Chocolate has been enjoyed for centuries and used to cure many illnesses. Cocoa is grown in tropical countries and can be eaten as raw cacao, hot chocolate, candy and baked goods. Purchasing chocolate that is organic and certified fair trade ensures ethical treatment of cocoa producers plus higher nutritional...

Chocolate trumps fluoride in the fight against tooth decay

12/22/2013 - Imagine using chocolate to remineralize tooth enamel while discouraging cavities. Sound too good to be true? A researcher at Tulane University has come close with a non-toxic chocolate extract that outperforms fluoride. Taking into account the dangers associated with fluoride, and its presence in commercial...

Research shows chocolate's catechin content helps patients lose weight, similar to green tea

12/2/2013 - The myth that high-calorie food like chocolate causes weight gain has been clinically debunked by researchers at the University of Granada. A comprehensive study, funded by the European Union, reveals evidence that greater chocolate consumption actually lowers body mass index and central body fat in...

Support your heart with chocolate

11/27/2013 - Recent recommendations from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology expanding the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs to a whole new segment of our population underline the medical community's continued reliance on pharmaceuticals for treating symptoms of heart disease. This...

Five reasons cacao gives you superhero health

10/3/2013 - Cacao has been a super food secret that's been revealed more and more lately. Cacao is the essential ingredient of chocolate. It can be purchased as a powder or nibs and mixed into coffee or milk to get the maximum polyphenol flavonoids that offer many health benefits. But don't let this lure you...

Chocolate may prevent memory loss and Alzheimer's dementia

9/16/2013 - There is little doubt that the gradual decline in memory and cognitive function that can be the first signs of impending dementia and Alzheimer's disease is one of the most serious health problems facing millions of aging adults in most western societies. What is even more staggering is that many people...

Three incredibly healthy reasons to eat the 'food of the gods'

9/9/2013 - The ancient Incas, Mayans, and Aztecs considered cacao (ka-cow) a source of power. The scientific name for the cacao (or cocoa) bean is Theobroma cacao, which literally translates as "Food of the Gods". Raw chocolate or cacao is the unprocessed seed or bean form of chocolate. Cacao grows on trees...

Latest research on cacao shows extraordinary benefits on blood pressure, cholesterol and more

9/5/2013 - If you like chocolate, you're not alone. People have been enjoying cacao, the source of original cocoa, for thousands of years. This delicious and nutritious superfood has a long, rich history among the peoples of the tropical regions of the Americas. It was used as a food, a medicine, and a currency....

Moderate chocolate consumption is linked with decreased stroke risk in men

9/1/2013 - The scientific community has released yet more good news about the health benefits of chocolate - moderate consumption may reduce the risk of stroke in men. Earlier studies have shown this delectable food reduces the risk of stroke in women, as well as enhances the health of the heart and brain in both...

Four research-proven reasons to eat dark chocolate for your health

8/27/2013 - Chocolate has been unwrapped as a healthy dietary addition for most. Of course, it should be organic dark chocolate minimally sweetened and without milk additives. Since raw cacao is the main antioxidant and nutritional provider, it should be well over 70% cacao and more bitter than sweet. You can...

Hot chocolate enhances memory, modulates immune cells

8/18/2013 - In the August 7th issue of Neurology, scientists at Harvard Medical School suggest that drinking two cups of hot chocolate daily will prevent memory decline in older people. Their investigation sought to discover the benefits of cocoa consumption in relation to memory performance and neurovascular coupling,...

Cacao found to be a 'defense shield' against strokes

7/22/2013 - It may not be the recommendation that is suitable to a dietician but chances are good the average person will like it: new research suggests that chocolate may act as a sort of "defense shield" against stroke. Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden followed more than 37,000 Swedish men;...

History of cacao

7/13/2013 - Rich. Sinfully delicious. Cacao, or Theobroma cacao, is the source of original, natural chocolate. It comes from seeds of the fruit of the cacao tree. What most Americans think of as chocolate contains no cacao at all, and therefore contains none of its healthful phytochemicals. Native to the tropical...

The power of cacao explained

7/7/2013 - For almost 4,000 years, cacao and the chocolate made from it have been a decadent treat. For the ancient peoples of Mesoamerica it was prized as food, medicine, and currency. Considered a gift from their gods, the natives used it in rituals, and extolled its virtues in hieroglyphs, songs, and drawings....

Eight reasons why pregnant women should eat chocolate

6/24/2013 - There seems to be great reasons why pregnant women should treat themselves with chocolate. This is because these luscious treats are found to improve a pregnant woman's condition by preventing certain complications including pre-eclampsia. According to studies, chocolate can not only relieve a pregnant...

Reduce your cholesterol with chocolate: Research

6/21/2013 - More good news for chocolate lovers: Research shows that the polyphenols in cocoa powder can improve your cholesterol levels. Like certain other foods such as berries and green tea, cocoa powder is high in antioxidant chemicals known as polyphenols. In cocoa, the polyphenol family known as the flavanols...

Top ten healthy reasons to eat chocolate

6/15/2013 - Good news for all you chocolate lovers out there, new research has found this divine food has even more health boosting advantages than previously recognized. Not only does it enhance both cardiovascular and mental well-being, but it also lowers body mass index (BMI) and insulin resistance. However,...

Dark chocolate and pistachios: The power snack duo that fights inflammation and heart disease

4/9/2013 - Snacking on pistachios and dark chocolate for heart health? Hand them over! It's hard to imagine a tastier duo. And the science confirming this is in for both snack treats individually. But it shouldn't require further clinical research to grasp that combining them offers even more protection against...

Chocolate really does lower your blood pressure

3/22/2013 - A growing body of research is emerging to show that eating chocolate really can lower your blood pressure. Researchers have suspected for many years that chocolate may have a beneficial effect on blood pressure, ever since discovering that the indigenous Kuna people of the Central American island...

Chocolate and roses have health benefits: Not just for Valentines' Day - find out how to get the best chocolate and roses for your health

2/13/2013 - Chocolate and roses are symbols of Valentines Day and any day requiring romance. And both, chocolate and roses, are good for your health, containing nutrients and vitamins that help lower blood pressure, treat depression, grow healthy hair and skin, and increase immunity. Health benefits and facts...

Another reason to eat chocolate: it may cure your cough

1/17/2013 - Not everyone needs a reason to eat chocolate. But it's always nice to know there are valid health reasons that support this pleasure. Even then, it's no excuse to understand which type of chocolate has the most health benefits value. A December 2012 UK study with 300 patients in 13 hospitals used...

The unbelievably nutritious avocado: Holiday vegan chocolate pudding recipe included

12/28/2012 - Avocados are one of the healthiest foods on the planet. They are filled with a plethora of nutrients including vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, copper, iron, phosporus, magnesium, and potassium. In fact, you would need to eat two or tree bananas to meet the potassium content of just one avocado. Avocados...

Hot chocolate - Food of the gods! The soulful, superfood that's good for you and deliciously sinful

11/26/2012 - From happy childish squeals of delight during a snow storm to a cozy winter corner wrapped in the seductive lusciousness of sweet warmth, nothing touches the heart or belly like a cup of delicious hot chocolate. The food of the gods, according to ancient Mayans has recently taken center stage on the...

Cocoa butter is not just for chocolate anymore - Discover the healthy secrets behind this sensuous food

11/10/2012 - Need another reason to love the cacao bean? As it turns out, cocoa butter has its own set of health enhancing properties apart from cocoa. External use of the butter clears everything from psoriasis to dermatitis to eczema, while conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disease...

Divine brain food - Sharpen your thinking with chocolate

11/8/2012 - Most people don't need an excuse to eat chocolate -- its creamy texture and delicious taste are reason enough. Yet, here is another compelling reason to savor chocolate: it helps your brain work better. Flavonols present within chocolate may be the key to this enhanced cognitive functioning. But we...

Superfood taste breakthrough: X-Balance tastes like chocolate milk, but delivers affordable nutrition for kids and adults

10/23/2012 - If you've not been impressed by the taste of superfood powders that you mix with milk or water to make a nutrient-dense beverage, you need to know about X-Balance from SGN Nutrition. Of all the superfoods I've tasted and reviewed over the years, this one offers the most inviting taste of them all. It's...

Scientific fact: Nobel prize winners eat more chocolate

10/13/2012 - Imagine a scientist receiving the Nobel prize with a dark chocolate bar held behind his or her back while acknowledging associates, family, and thanking the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences panel for bestowing the honor. Then the chocolate bar is brought up and munched on with a smile. Later, the...

A daily dose of chocolate is shown to help prevent stroke in men

9/22/2012 - A wealth of scientific evidence continues to demonstrate the powerful health benefits of consuming a wide variety of polyphenols from natural foods. In past studies, resveratrol, curcumin and grape seed extract have been shown to help prevent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and dementia as...

Cocoa flavanols from dark chocolate halt memory decline during aging

8/23/2012 - Extensive research over the past decade has demonstrated the critical importance of natural compounds known as flavanols from foods including blueberries, grapes, green tea, apples, onions, broccoli and dark chocolate. Flavanols support cellular and metabolic activities throughout the body by providing...

Chocolate-based fuel and plant fiber car - A new wave of eco-friendly innovation

8/17/2012 - Chocolate is not just a pleasurable treat anymore. Researchers in the UK have discovered a way to convert waste produced from chocolate manufacturing into viable eco-fuel. Whether environmentally friendly biodiesel or hydrogen for fuel cells, both can now be produced using chocolate factory refuge....

Olympic gymnast promotes chocolate milk riddled with HFCS as 'scientifically proven' workout recovery beverage of choice

8/15/2012 - Alexandra "Aly" Raisman's gentle spirit and persistent attitude most certainly lit up the floor at the recent London 2012 Olympics, where she took home a gold medal for the floor exercise final, as well as a bronze medal for the balance beam, and another gold medal for her team finals. But where the...

Chocolate can improve blood circulation, EFSA rules

7/21/2012 - The EFSA is the European Food Safety Authority, and it considers it okay for a food to promote health benefits based on scientific proof. This is not the attitude of USA's Food and Drug Administration. Our militantly aggressive FDA has the viewpoint that only large pharmaceutical corporations can...

Beat the heat with these dairy-free chocolate pudding pops

6/16/2012 - Sweet frozen treats are perfect for hot summer days! Unfortunately, the lack of nutrition and over-abundance of chemical ingredients in most commercial varieties is far from ideal. This summer, try making your own. It's a great way to control the quality of your ingredients! Even a novice in the kitchen...

Dark chocolate shown to protect against heart attack and stroke in at-risk individuals

6/13/2012 - Heart disease and stroke continues to rank as the leading, preventable cause of death in most Western societies, killing three-quarters of a million people combined. Any natural compound that can significantly lower the death rate from vascular diseases should be embraced by natural health advocates...

Boost your brain with chocolate! Raw chocolate, raw food and happiness with David Wolfe, Steve Adler on Mental Health Exposed

4/26/2012 - Learn the benefits of the world's tastiest superfood, raw chocolate, on this episode of Mental Health Exposed. Raw food mogul David Wolfe and Steve Adler of Sacred Chocolate join Mike Bundrant to discuss not only the virtues of eating a raw diet, but also the science behind raw chocolate, perhaps...

Federal antitrust complaint claims Hershey conspired with the world's largest chocolatiers to fix prices in the U.S

4/17/2012 - Americans appear to be eating less processed chocolate products than they used to, which has led to a steady decline in the overall growth rate of the chocolate products market. And a new complaint filed in federal court alleges that The Hershey Company, America's largest chocolatier, has been conspiring...

Three benefits of dark chocolate that will help you lose weight

3/30/2012 - The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 68 percent of adults over the age of 20 are overweight, half of whom are considered obese. Of course obesity is also strongly linked to many other health problems including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. The economic costs are enormous....

Seven reasons to eat more dark chocolate

2/15/2012 4:59:56 PM - More and more health reasons for eating dark chocolate keep coming in. Many will be pointed out here, then explained further in the sources indicated by numbers in parenthesis. But first, understand that organic dark chocolate brought into the market place under fair trade agreements is best. Some...

Cocoa from dark chocolate lowers risk from colon cancer

2/6/2012 - Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths annually, a statistic that remains constant despite increased awareness of the deadly disease. Researchers from the Science and Technology Institute of Food and Nutrition in Spain have published the result of a study in the journal Molecular Nutrition...

Add some vitality to your hot chocolate this winter

12/31/2011 - As the winter chill blows in, we almost innately brew up some hot chocolate for a warm and tasty treat. When doing so, here's a few quick and easy ways to revitalize this guilty pleasure and turn it into a medicinal delight. Best ChocolateObviously, high quality chocolate is fundamentally important....

Chocolate consumption lowers stroke risk and heart disease incidence by a third

11/7/2011 - Everybody likes chocolate, a fact supported by the annual increase in consumption documented by chocolate manufacturers around the globe. This may be good news for many chocolate consumers, but caution is advised to carefully monitor the quantity consumed and the cocoa content of the product purchased....

Chocolate reduces stroke risk in women, study finds

10/26/2011 - Swedish researchers have contributed the latest glad tidings to a growing number of studies indicating chocolate is beneficial for the cardiovascular system. According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, scientists found that women, who ate the most chocolate,...

Chocolate and cocoa polyphenols vindicated in the war against heart disease

9/7/2011 - Researchers from the University of Cambridge in England have finally published solid evidence to demonstrate the consumption of chocolate is associated with improved heart and vascular health. Writing in the prestigious BMJ (British Medical Journal), Dr. Oscar Franco and his team determined several...

Scientists announce amazing findings: chocolate offers huge protection from heart disease and stroke

8/30/2011 - All regular readers of NaturalNews know that researchers have discovered chocolate (especially the organic, not junked up with additives and sugar type) contains phytochemicals which appear to promote good health. But no one has had much of a clue about the specifics of some of those benefits on the...

Cocoa flavanols from dark chocolate improve vision and cognitive function

5/27/2011 - Potent cacao flavanols from dark chocolate have proven effective in lowering the risk from heart disease and sudden heart attack in recent studies. Writing in the journal Physiology and Behavior, researchers demonstrate that antioxidants released by consumption of cocoa products can improve multiple...

Dark chocolate is brimming with antioxidants and heart-healthy properties, research finds

4/5/2011 - Ongoing research shows that eating dark chocolate exerts beneficial effects throughout the whole body. High quality chocolate delivers disease-zapping antioxidants, lowers blood pressure and protects your heart and liver, all in one fell crunch. Chemistry Central Journal brings even more good news...

Why chocolate is good for the heart - The scientific evidence

3/22/2011 - Chocolate. It's bad for us, right? Not even close. The list of cardiovascular benefits from cocoa consumption is extensive and well-documented in the medical literature. In addition to this, a recent 2011 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has shed new light on a mechanism that...

Mini Minty Chocolate Chunk Muffins are good for the body and mind

2/26/2011 - If you are reading this article than you are probably one of a growing number of health conscious consumers, or are learning to be. And as most health conscious folks know, it can be hard to find quick, tasty snacks when you're craving something that's not a fruit or a vegetable (wonderful as they are)....

Regular chocolate consumption prevents heart disease in older women

12/10/2010 - Women over 70 are less likely to die or be hospitalized due to heart disease, according to a controlled 10-year study conducted by researchers at the University of Western Australia. To determine the link between chocolate consumption and atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) events, the randomized...

Sacred Chocolate bon-bon truffles are topped with rose petals, mango powder and even 24 carat gold

12/8/2010 - I don't know where to begin with these Sacred Chocolate "Truth Truffles." They're made by the Sacred Chocolate company (www.SacredChocolate.com) which was founded by Sacred Steve -- a guy with a lot of fans in the raw food and healthy living communities. He's a super energetic, brilliant man with a...

Cacao - An ancient medicine validated by modern science

12/3/2010 - Legendary cacao has a long history of medicinal use throughout Mesoamerica and South America. Today, science confirms chocolate has many favorable qualities that support health and psychological well-being. This magical bean offers great benefits when the cacao is high-quality, raw and organic. The...

Chocolate can be healthy, as long as it is the right kind

11/29/2010 - It may sound crazy to some. Can chocolate really be healthy? Well, as long as it is the right kind, it absolutely can be. The determining factor as to whether or not the chocolate is a diabetes-inducing sugar bomb is the cacao content. The higher the cacao content, the more health benefits the chocolate...

Chocolate shown to lower blood pressure better than drugs

11/22/2010 - High blood pressure is a critical concern as it significantly raises the incidence of vascular disease and stroke. As a result of stress, poor diet and lifestyle, enzymes in our body produce a substance known as angiotensin II that causes blood vessels to narrow and blood pressure to increase. Standard...

Chocolate prices could skyrocket as cocoa farmers leave business

11/16/2010 - The era of cheap chocolate may soon come to an end as many cocoa farmers in West Africa -- which represents the largest cocoa-growing region in the world -- continue to leave the business. Pest problems, low pay, and a difficult growing cycle, have together taken much of the incentive out of growing...

Cocoa Mojo superfood hot chocolate and my adventure through the Andes (with pictures)

10/27/2010 - In June of 2009, I embarked on an adventure into the Podocarpus National Forest near Vilcabamba, Ecuador. This trip was primarily on horseback (with a lot of walking through rugged terrain, too), and I documented the entire thing with photographs you can see here: https://www.naturalnews.com/phototours/podocarpus-vilcabamba-ecuador-tour/index.html Our...

Chocolate compounds fight high cholesterol

10/19/2010 - Chocolate has received a lot of attention for being a treasure trove of nutritional goodness. Polyphenols in cacao beans are linked to promoting heart, brain, and liver health, which has sparked renewed interest in chocolate as a medicinal food. And a new study adds to the growing list of benefits,...

Sugared-up chocolate milk now sold as "infant formula" by Mead Johnson

10/14/2010 - A new sugared toddler formula is drawing fire from parents and nutritionists who warn that it may prevent children from developing healthy eating habits. Mead Johnson Nutrition's Enfagrow Premium toddler chocolate and vanilla formulas are designed for toddlers who are transitioning away from breast...

Dark chocolate prevents damage from strokes

10/4/2010 - Researchers from Johns Hopkins University believe they have discovered a biochemical pathway by which a chemical naturally found in dark chocolate can help protect the body from strokes. Previous research has shown that a flavanol known as epicatechin appears to protect the body against cardiovascular...

Enjoy the Secret Health Benefits of Chocolate

9/24/2010 - When it comes to forbidden foods, chocolate often hits the top of the list. Although it tastes sublime, everyone knows that chocolate is a worthless junk food... isn't it? Some experts disagree and claim chocolate actually offers a myriad of health benefits. It makes sense that most of us want chocolate...

Original cacao is ancient treasure of chocolate from the Ecuadorian rainforest (updated)

9/1/2010 - Editor's note: This article has undergone extensive revisions from its first publication in order to clarify the definition of certain terms and correct several errors. These corrections are based on hours of additional research and conversations with cacao experts. Most people have never eaten real...

High cocoa chocolate can prevent cardiovascular illness

8/25/2010 - The alleged health benefits of chocolate have circulated the news in recent years, but new research shows that not just any old chocolate will do. A recent Swedish study suggests that chocolate with high cocoa content -- like the kind commonly sold in Europe -- contains the high flavanol content that...

Flax Meal and Almond Flour Chocolate Cake: Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

8/16/2010 - Trying to maintain good health in our food-obsessed culture is hard. Anywhere and everywhere you go you are faced with advertisements for foods and beverages which are rarely acceptable when trying to stick with a healthy diet. Whether it is an energy drink containing a whopping 83 grams of sugar per...

New Study: Chocolate during Pregnancy Lowers Risks of Hypertension

8/10/2010 - As if anyone needed another reason to eat chocolate, new research published in the August 2010 issue of the Annals of Epidemiology suggests that chocolate may be good for both gestational hypertension (GH) and for preeclampsia.1 This, of course, goes hand-in-hand with a lot of other research...

Reduce Hypertension with Chocolate, Beets, Oats and Lavender

7/28/2010 - Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure or HBP, affects more than 70 million Americans. High blood pressure causes damage to the blood vessels and eventually can lead to numerous side effects, such as heart disease, stroke or kidney failure, warns the American Heart Association. Home remedies...

Dark Chocolate Lowers Blood Pressure

7/9/2010 - According to a new meta-analysis published last month in the BMC Medicine journal, dark chocolate may help to reduce blood pressure in those suffering from hypertension (1). Compared to control groups, chocolate-eaters had an average reduction in systolic blood pressure of 5 mmHg, which is comparable...

Raw Cacao: Turn Chocolate Cravings into Super Nutrition

7/8/2010 - One of the most craved, savored, and sought after foods worldwide can also benefit the body in extraordinary ways. Cacao, cocoa, chocolate - no matter how you say it, humans around the globe seek the mouth-watering pleasure and mood-boosting effects of this extraordinary antioxidant. Cocoa beans...

New research: chocolate milk beats sports drinks for post-exercise muscle recovery

6/17/2010 - After an intense workout, instead of downing a commercial sports drink loaded with artificial colors and sugar, you'd be better off just having a glass of chocolate milk. That's the conclusion of two studies presented at the recent American College of Sports Medicine's 57th Annual Meeting held in Baltimore....

X-Balance superfood makes a delicious, nutritious chocolate milk drink for adults and kids

5/26/2010 - Remember the taste of chocolate milk? That wonderfully sugary, chocolaty fatty taste is one you'll probably never forget. And I bet you wouldn't think you could recreate that taste with something that's actually good for you... but now you can! One of my favorite all-time superfood powders is called...

Chocolate can help prevent strokes

5/6/2010 - Researchers from the University of Toronto recently conducted a study in which they observed measurable health benefits in people who eat chocolate. The study involved roughly 50,000 participants and it revealed that those who eat a serving of chocolate a week are 22 percent less likely to suffer a...

Chocolate lowers blood pressure and slashes risk of heart disease

4/6/2010 - As NaturalNews reported previously, Canadian scientists have found that consuming chocolate regularly significantly reduces the odds of having a stroke (https://www.naturalnews.com/028278_chocolate_strokes.html). Now other researchers have just published a study in the European Heart Journal providing...

Eating chocolate regularly may prevent strokes

3/2/2010 - Stroke takes an enormous toll on health. In fact, it's the third leading cause of death in the US, according to the American Stroke Association. So imagine how much money Big Pharma could rake in if drug manufacturers came up with a medication that not only reduced the risk of having a stroke but slashed...

Founders of Boku Superfood and Gnosis Chocolate featured on NaturalNews Talk Hour

12/17/2009 - The NaturalNews Talk Hour presents a very special holiday evening with TWO of the most health-conscious, nutritionally-sound companies on the market today. Reno Rolle, Co-Founder of Boku International, Dr. BJ Adrezin, Master Formulator of Boku products and Vanessa Barg, Founder of Gnosis Chocolate....

Milk lobby initiates marketing campaign at kids to keep chocolate milk in schools

11/12/2009 - The commercial milk industry is planning to initiate a nationwide marketing campaign on Monday designed to keep chocolate milk in schools. Soda, candy, and other junk foods have been undergoing criticism recently for contributing to childhood obesity, leading the milk lobby to campaign for support...

Ani Phyo Part III: Cacao and Raw Food Desserts

9/28/2009 - This interview is an excerpt from Kevin Gianni's Renegade Health Inner Circle, which can be found at http://www.RenegadeHealth.com. In this excerpt, Ani Phyo shares on cacao and raw food desserts that "wow." Renegade Health Inner Circle with Ani Phyo. Ani Phyo is a raw food chef extraordinaire and...

Naturally Sweet: Discover the Wholesome Goodness of Carob

9/9/2009 - In recent years carob has been known solely as a chocolate substitute, but this seductively sweet food has both the substance and the flavor to earn its own merit. The history of carob is as rich as its flavor. Native to the rocky terrain of the Mediterranean, carob pods have been used in food preparation...

Discover the Power of Cocoa Powder

8/1/2009 - A cup of hot cocoa may not do much to cool you down from the summer swelter, but it may cool down your blood pressure. According to a new report filed in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, hypertensive rats fed a moderate dose of powdered chocolate dropped their systolic blood pressure...

Chocolate Provides Health Benefits

3/20/2009 - Studies have now proven that chocolate is good for you. It is rich in antioxidants and has many health benefits, including lowering blood sugar and cholesterol. Cocoa comes from the Theobromo cacao plant. Half of the cocoa bean is made of fat in the form of cocoa butter. Cocoa powder is the edible non-fat...

Revealed: The Health Ranger's Avocado Chocolate Superfood Smoothie Recipe

3/2/2009 - Wouldn't it be nice to chug down a delicious chocolate shake without any guilt whatsoever? That's what my Avocado Chocolate Superfood Smoothie recipe provides: A delicious, nutritious and 100 percent guilt-free superfood smoothie that will excite your taste buds and enhance your health! This recipe...

Eat More Chocolate for Health

2/21/2009 - Chocolate has been a favorite food of people since it was first discovered. A joke among chocolate lovers is that it is an essential nutrient. But aside from a velvety texture and indescribable taste, is chocolate good for you? Research has shown that raw, dark cocoa is. Chocolate in assorted candies...

Raw Chocolate: Reasons Why You Should Eat It

2/14/2009 - Is raw chocolate good for you? We might all like to think that it`s great for our bodies, but is this true or not? Here`s a quick rundown on the history of cacao and its possible benefits to raw foodists and anyone who is interested in going the whole nine yards to look after their health. First...

Chocolate may be Beneficial for Chronic Fatigue

1/29/2009 - Regularly consuming chocolate could be beneficial to those with chronic fatigue syndrome, according to a study at Hull York Medical School. People who suffered with the illness found that they had more energy when they consumed high cocoa content. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illness that...

Chocolate Really Is Good For You: Studies Prove It

11/12/2008 - Chocolate lovers, take heart. Reports from recent studies have given you plenty of reasons to keep on eating chocolate without feeling guilty. In fact, the news from several studies released this spring shows that chocolate is quite effective against the number one killer of Americans, heart disease....

Improve Your Health and Well-Being with Raw Chocolate

11/11/2008 - Kit Kats, Snickers, Cadbury. We all know that chocolate is bad for us right? Wrong! Chocolate is actually one of the healthiest foods on the earth! Research is continually proving that chocolate is actually a super food. The problem is that most chocolate has been highly processed and heated, stealing...

A Potent Make-it-Yourself Face Mask for Radiant Skin

10/27/2008 - Facemasks are a good way to thoroughly cleanse and nourish the skin on a deep level. There are many natural skin care facemasks on the market, but you can easily make your own at home… and you will probably find that it is even more nutrient dense and chemical free than what you can buy in the shops. Here...

Raw Foodists Arrested for Trafficking Chocolate; Interrogated for "Cacao Crimes"

9/24/2008 - When Ron and Nadine from the Living Libations beauty care and chocolate company (www.LivingLibations.com) attempted to fly to the United States in August of this year, they ran into something completely unexpected: Drug-sniffing dogs at the Toronto airport. When their dogs took a special interest in...

Why Chocolate Is Good for Your Heart

9/24/2008 - Can't live without dessert? Forget about ice cream and cakes, and go for dark chocolate! It′s actually good for you -- in moderation of course. Chocolate and cocoa are made from the cacao bean, one of the richest sources of flavanols, a group of polyphenolic antioxidants. The major flavanols in...

Raw Food Product Review: Chocolate Caramel Bars from Righteously Raw

9/15/2008 - The 2008 Raw Spirit Festival concluded yesterday, wrapping up the third annual gathering of raw foods enthusiasts, vendors, authors and speakers. As always, it served as a launching pad for some of the most amazing and innovative products you'll find in the entire natural products industry. In this...

The Frightening Diet of American Cows: Potato Chips, Chocolate and Chicken Manure

9/12/2008 - In The Physiology of Taste, written in 1825, Anthelme Brillat-Savarin wrote, "Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are." This is the origin of the popular phrase, "You are what you eat." It's no secret that America is facing an unprecedented obesity epidemic. So, just what are Americans...

A Delicious Super Food Chocolate Cake Recipe

8/24/2008 - This raw chocolate and goji berry cake is not only incredibly delicious, but it is power packed with nutrient dense superfoods. Goji berries are the highest source of vitamin C, a sexual tonic, and one of the best cancer fighting super foods. Just ask the Tibetans. Raw chocolate is one of the best...

Studies Prove That Chocolate Is Really Good for You

8/22/2008 - Chocolate lovers, take heart. Reports from recent studies have given you plenty of reasons to keep on eating chocolate without feeling guilty. In fact, the news from several studies released this spring shows that chocolate is quite effective against the number one killer of Americans, heart disease....

Nutritional Authority David Wolfe Discusses Metabolism and Chocolate

8/22/2008 - This interview is an excerpt from Kevin Gianni's Fountain of Youth Summit, which can be found at (http://fountainofyouthworldsummit.com) . In this excerpt, David Wolfe shares on foods that speed up metabolism and the truth about chocolate. The Fountain of Youth World Summit with David Wolfe, nutrition...

Interview with Steve Adler, Creator of "Sacred Chocolate" from Naturaw.com

8/16/2008 - The following is an interview with Steve Adler, creator of Sacred Chocolate. It was conducted at the Raw Spirit Festival, where Steve presents his chocolates each year. Mike: I'm here today with Steve Adler of Naturaw (www.Naturaw.com). Thanks for joining us today Steve. Steve: Thank you Mike. Mike:...

Product Reviews of Bear Fruit Bar, FruitFast Bar and Organic Food Bar (transcription)

7/16/2008 - Welcome to the Health Ranger Show. It is a great day to talk about some new health food bar products. I am going to review them here on this show independently, and objectively. I do not have any financial stake in any of the products that I am going to comment on here. (This document is a transcription...

Cheap, Processed Chocolate Has Virtually No Health Benefits Due to Lack of Flavanols

7/1/2008 - People should not be misled into believing that the typical chocolate bar is good for heart health, according to an editorial published in the influential medical journal Lancet, because most processed chocolate bars contain very low amounts of the nutrient that makes chocolate good for you. A series...

Examining the Properties of Chocolate and Cacao for Health

2/7/2008 - Are you one of the rare individuals on this planet who does not like nor ever craves chocolate at some point in your life? But, if you are like most of the Western world, have you ever wondered why chocolate can be so addictive, apart from its rich sweet lingering taste? Well, it has to do with your...

Chocolate for Valentine's Day? This Year, Choose Real Cacao Superfoods, Not Processed Chocolate Candy

2/6/2008 - With Valentine's Day fast approaching, many consumers are once again shopping for chocolate. The rush to buy chocolate is even stronger this year, thanks to the continued reporting of chocolate's remarkable health benefits. Yet most consumers have been deceived: Typical processed chocolate products...

Super Healthy Gift Ideas for the Holiday Season

11/28/2007 - If you're giving gifts to friends, relatives or coworkers this holiday season, be sure to consider the nature of the gift itself: Does it promote health? Was it sustainably created? When it is disposed of or consumed, what kind of impact will it have on the environment? Was it created with honest labor,...

Dark chocolate flavonoids reduce high blood pressure

8/22/2007 - Cocoa reduces high blood pressure but tea does not, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers from the University Hospital of Cologne in Germany compared the results of 10 different studies, five examining the effects of cocoa on blood pressure, and five examining...

Cacao stabilizes blood sugar; chocolate may actually help diabetics

8/2/2007 - Obese, diabetic mice whose diet was supplemented with an extract of cacao liquor demonstrated a significant reduction in blood sugar levels in a Japanese study reported in the journal Nutrition. "The dietary intake of food or drinks produced from cacao beans might be beneficial in preventing the...

Raw, "empowered" chocolate products launched by Empowered Foods; full review of sensational product line

6/5/2007 - You've never had chocolate like this before. Of all the chocolate products I've ever tried (and I've eaten a lot of them because, of course, it's my job), nothing compares to the raw, "empowered" chocolate superfood bars and products made by a small raw foods company in Clearwater, Florida. It's called...

Hershey's launches new antioxidant chocolate products with emphasis on health

4/5/2007 - The Hershey Company has announced that it is adding two new products to its "goodness chocolate portfolio" of antioxidant-rich chocolate. The company has established special labeling for its new line, touting high levels of flavanols that occur naturally in cocoa beans. "Consumers are very interested...

Chocolate raw foods roundup: The best new chocolate superfood bars revealed

3/29/2007 - Ah, the taste of raw chocolate! It's more than just a food, it's a superfood with increasingly well-documented health benefits. The very name of one of the active chemical components in chocolate (theobromine) is derived from the word theos (the same word root as theology), which gives you a hint of...

Chocolate found to reduce risk of miscarriage

12/11/2006 - If you're pregnant, you may be happy to know that chocolate cravings may be good for you. New research shows morning sickness lowers the risk of miscarriage by almost 70 percent -- and eating chocolate daily also appears to lower the risk of miscarriage. "Chocolate is a genuine healing food," said...

Chocolate lovers rejoice: 2007 to produce an abundant cocoa crop

11/30/2006 - The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) announced yesterday that the 2007 cocoa crop would produce a global cocoa surplus of 80,000 tons, up from previous estimates of a 5,000-ton deficit. The trade organization said favorable weather conditions in cocoa-producing regions of the world accounts...

Dark chocolate found to help prevent blood clots in Johns Hopkins study

11/16/2006 - Johns Hopkins University researchers have found that a little dark chocolate every day can help thin the blood, thereby possibly reducing the risk of developing a blood clot. The researchers observed the platelets of a group of people, initially analyzing the effects of aspirin on the tiny particles...

Plant sterols in Mars chocolate bars lowers cholesterol

11/9/2006 - 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...

Chocolate companies found World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) to support sustainable cocoa production in West Africa

10/13/2006 - Sustainable cocoa is needed now more than ever as demand increases in Western countries to fuel the ever-growing love for chocolate products. As a result of this growing demand, chocolate companies are about to unite with the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) to support sustainable cocoa production in West...

Hershey's to finally introduce chocolate products made with real cacao

9/7/2006 - The Hershey Company recently announced its new line of Cacao Reserve all-natural chocolate products made with real cacao. The Cacao Reserve products include a chocolate bars, drinking cocoa and truffles with different concentrations of cacao. The chocolate bars are available in milk chocolate and...

Heal Your Heart with Wine and Chocolate (press release)

8/18/2006 - If women would drink a glass of red wine a day and eat an ounce of dark chocolate, they could help reduce their risk of heart disease by 54 percent, says a new book officially being released today by the New York publisher, Stewart, Tabori & Chang. Heal Your Heart with Wine and Chocolate . . . and...

Heartburn sufferers shouldn't be too quick to reach for the antacids; heartburn medications do more harm than good

7/25/2006 - Before you reach for the antacids to deal with troublesome heartburn, you might want to consider simply changing your eating habits. Most people are aware that eating too quickly or eating certain foods can trigger heartburn, yet few people are willing to change how and what they eat. Instead, they...

Chocoholics rejoice; study shows that the flavanols in cocoa can reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer

5/26/2006 - The news the world has awaited with bated breath is finally here: Cocoa prevents cancer and heart disease. Candy producer Mars Inc., along with Harvard University, released the results of a 10-year study on Feb. 9 revealing that cocoa – rather, the flavanols in cocoa – can substantially reduce the risk...

Cocoa is loaded with anti-cancer phytochemicals and compounds, says research

11/19/2003 10:54:46 PM - It's true: cocoa can prevent and reverse cancer. That's because it's loaded with powerful phytochemicals found naturally in the cacao plant -- the source of cocoa and just one of many Amazon herbs. But in the real world, people will take this information and misuse it: they'll stuff down chocolate...

Chocolate is actually a powerful herb used for thousands of years as a healing agent

11/8/2003 12:35:06 AM - As this news shows, cocoa contains a powerful mixture of health-enhancing antioxidants. Most people don't know it, but cocoa is a rainforest herb. Technically known as Theobroma Cacao, the cocoa bean has been used for thousands of years by indigenous tribes in South and Central America. Cacao is...

See all 206 chocolate feature articles.

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