Xocai Healthy Chocolate

2009-07-08T06:36:00.001-06:00

Do yo like to shop eBaY? Check this out! You will LOVE this!! http://ping.fm/osvwU

Streamline Funnel Systems.com

2009-06-30T17:09:00.001-06:00

WOW! You gotta see this!!! Come join us NOW before the 7th of July for FREE and before they launch! Get 10,000 double opt-In leads to YOUR account each month!! For only $9.95/m NO COLD CALLING any more! Go to my web page and sign up today! http://www.StreamlineFunnelSystem.com/?ID=15169

2009-06-21T16:04:00.001-06:00

Just launched THIS MINUTE – NEW MAILER – F*R*E*E* - Join Immediately !!

Dear friends

This site has just launched this minute !!

This will blow your mind – it truly gets you INSTANT TRAFFIC !!

The Green-Elist (GEL) mailer is a gorgeous opportunity to grab, TODAY!

Green-EList is a n3w monster e-mailer in town, and it is a smart way to mail out your email ads.

----> You can email your ads as many times you like to everyday.

----> Your email headlines (subject line) are shown Internet-wide on numerous sites [WOW]

----> Expect this to grow. And fast. So hurry to get the max display of your site.

----> ...Outrageous value on the optional pro package.

----> ...and much more... Believe me.

Check it out here:

http://ping.fm/X0nqe

Do NOT hesitate, seriously, these sites by MaryAnne Myers gain 10,000 plus members, even in just 3 weeks time !!!

You can join for F*REE or you can UPGRADE – but whatever you do – JOIN IMMEDIATELY !!

You can also e.arn – big time – even as a fr33 member !!

HUGE CONTEST INSIDE !! ENJOY !!

To our success in 2009

Debra P.

PS As a thank you for reading my message – here is the link to the NEW Social Network – HelloHello – where you get P*A*I*D to NETWORK. F.REE to join. Please remember to add me as your friend – my user name is bluecoat – see you on the inside – ENJOY !!

2009-06-18T07:04:00.001-06:00

Do you search Google? try Tazoodle and get paid to search! http://ping.fm/JqXHX
**********************
I was recently introduced to a new generation of search engine. It's called Tazoodle and it's very unique.

Search engines earn income by charging advertisers to display their website links on the search results page. Tazoodle does the same thing. What makes Tazoodle different is that they share the income with its advertisers and viewers alike.

With similar searching results as other search engines, what an incredible way to earn income if you are a user and recoup your advertising costs if you are an advertiser. It's brilliant.

You'll get excited about earning income for using this search engine. Do you earn income from your current search engine?
Click on the link below to register and watch the video presentation.
http://ping.fm/sfjXa

2009-06-18T07:01:00.001-06:00

http://tinysong.com/bKH By Michael W Smith. Try listening in HelloHello the GIGANTIC social network!http://ping.fm/f1PGy

2009-06-18T06:58:00.001-06:00

I was recently introduced to a new generation of search engine. It's called Tazoodle and it's very unique.

Search engines earn income by charging advertisers to display their website links on the search results page. Tazoodle does the same thing. What makes Tazoodle different is that they share the income with its advertisers and viewers alike.

With similar searching results as other search engines, what an incredible way to earn income if you are a user and recoup your advertising costs if you are an advertiser. It's brilliant.

You'll get excited about earning income for using this search engine. Do you earn income from your current search engine?
Click on the link below to register and watch the video presentation.
http://ping.fm/0jiXU
Debra Park

2009-06-18T06:55:00.001-06:00

A Swarm of Traffic To Your Site (http://ping.fm/kVv8r)

2009-06-17T05:56:00.001-06:00

Are you tired of Hype, Lies & Empty Promises? It's time for a BIG change! http://ping.fm/rxfBp Please RT

2009-06-16T11:54:00.001-06:00

Joiin for social network that pays you and have fun called HelloHello I'm having a blast! If is just like facebook and myspace and bebo, only they pay!http://ping.fm/JhHLR

2009-06-16T07:20:00.001-06:00

Up in my attic on my computer listening to music and updating and reading messages. It's hot up here all ready at 9am

2009-06-14T09:17:00.001-06:00

Bella Rose Spa- Set up Your Appointment today! (http://ping.fm/Ly5Tb)

2009-06-11T07:10:00.001-06:00

Get restaurant coupons for $4 at restaurant.com when you get a free mall from MY POWER MALL@ http://ping.fm/OYFLG

2009-06-11T07:08:00.001-06:00

Raining all night. starting another day! Getting ready to run some errands and using my discounts from my mall! Wanna save some money for a rainy day or for a dine out at a restaurant for around $4-5? Visit: http://ping.fm/t4ZD4

2009-06-10T05:57:00.001-06:00

ViralNetworks.com - Internet Marketer's Playground! Join fore free (http://ping.fm/HAksX)

2009-06-10T05:40:00.001-06:00

Visit Debra's Treasure Post Blog (http://ping.fm/V4dXG)

2009-06-10T05:36:00.001-06:00

Ping.fm / Ping this! - Help (http://ping.fm/pD5UZ)

2009-06-10T05:35:00.001-06:00

Ping.fm / Ping this! - Help (http://ping.fm/RJbO3)

2009-06-08T18:45:00.001-06:00

CHECK THIS OUT! I just found this social network called HelloHello and it is just like facebook and others only you get paid to post a comment and other great features! See for your self! Join for FREE! http://ping.fm/Rx4Fl

2009-06-05T05:21:00.001-06:00

GIGANTIC SOCIAL NETWORKING called HelloHello! Join for free then if you like, you can join get in to the business of HelloHello business. HelloHello has chat,music,e-mail,groups,forums and you get credits for posting and uploading a photo to your profile, and get PAID to use HELLOHELLO! And another GREAT feature, get 20% discounts with purchases with partnered stores 100's of stores and purchase in the AUCTION and SAVE HUGE! Join for FREE and have fun ;-O http://www.hellohello.net/signup.php?ref=bluecoat

2009-06-04T07:42:00.001-06:00

Visit my NEW blog and checkout all my favorite links and research articles. More added all the time! Check out my wiglets and adverting links and my social network groups and pictures! You might be interested in! Have fun:0 http://ping.fm/LoQa4

2009-06-04T07:37:00.001-06:00

Visit my blog and have fun searching and viewing research and wiglets! http://ping.fm/3uAU7

Chocolate and Blood Pressure in Elderly Individuals With Isolated Systolic Hypertension

2009-03-11T06:46:00.002-06:00

Do you wonder?

To the Editor: Chocolate may have beneficial cardiovasculareffects, possibly due to cocoa polyphenols. Experiments inanimals suggest that plant polyphenols decrease blood pressure; however, evidence from human clinical trials is lacking.We examined whether dark chocolate (polyphenol-rich chocolate[PRC]) may lower BP in individuals with mild isolated hypertension.

Methods

We conducted a randomized crossover trial in 13 otherwise healthyindividuals (6 men and 7 women, aged 55-64 years, with bodymass index of 21.9-26.2 [calculated as weight in kilograms dividedby the square of height in meters]) with recently diagnosedand untreated stage 1 mild isolated systolic hypertension (mean[SD] systolic BP, 153.2 [3.9] mm Hg; mean [SD] diastolic BP,83.8 [3.5] mm Hg). After a cocoa-free run-in phase of 7 days,participants were randomly assigned to receive 14 consecutivedaily doses of either 100-g dark PRC bars containing 500 mgof polyphenols and 480 kcal of energy (Ritter Sport Halbbitter,Alfred Ritter, Waldenbuch, Germany), or 14 days of 90-g whitechocolate (polyphenol-free chocolate [PFC]) bars that also contained480 kcal and similar amounts of cocoa butter, macronutrients,fiber, electrolytes, and vitamins (Milka Weisse Schokolade,Kraft Foods, Bremen, Germany). After a cocoa-free washout phaseof 7 days, participants were crossed over to the other condition.Participants were asked to substitute the chocolate bars forfoods of similar energy and macronutrient composition. Overalldiet during the study period was assessed by reports of dailyfood intake and by measurement of body weight, plasma concentrationsof lipids and glucose, and urinary excretion of sodium, potassium,and nitrogen at the run-in phase and after each interventionperiod.

The BP was recorded daily, in a blinded fashion, with participantsin a seated position, 12 hours post-dose, in the left upperarm with a validated oscillometer (Omron HEM 722C, Omron, Mannheim,Germany). A systolic BP of more than 170 mm Hg or a diastolicBP of more than 100 mm Hg at a single visit was necessary forreferral for antihypertensive pharmacological treatment. Atthe end of the study participants were referred to their physicianfor further monitoring and management of BP. We received approvalfor our study from the ethics committee of the Medical Facultyof the University of Cologne; all participants gave writteninformed consent.

Results

Participants had significantly lower systolic and diastolicBPs within 10 days of beginning PRC, but this effect was notseen during the PFC period. At the end of the 14-dayPRC intervention, mean (SD) systolic BP had declined by 5.1(2.4) mm Hg (P<.001; paired 2-tailed t test) and mean (SD)diastolic BP by 1.8 (2.0) mm Hg (P = .002; paired 2-tailed ttest) compared with PFC. After discontinuation of PRC consumption,BP returned to preintervention values within 2 days. Heart ratewas not affected by either treatment. There were no sex differencesin the effects of chocolate on BP. None of the participantsreached the predefined threshold that would have required antihypertensivedrug therapy. Daily energy intake and macronutrient compositionremained stable throughout the study. Body mass index, 24-hoururinary excretion of sodium, potassium, and total nitrogen,as well as fasting plasma concentrations of total cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoproteincholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose were not significantlydifferent between the run-in phase and the postinterventionperiods.

If you would like to try the Healthy dark chocolate, you can order right from this blog. Or send me a text message on a question.

Dark Healthy Chocolate and Flavoniods

2009-02-23T05:53:00.003-07:00

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds that are ubiquitous in nature and are categorized, according to chemical structure, into flavonols, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, catechins, anthocyanidins and chalcones. Over 4,000 flavonoids have been identified, many of which occur in fruits, vegetables and beverages (tea, coffee, beer, wine and fruit drinks). The flavonoids have aroused considerable interest recently because of their potential beneficial effects on human health-they have been reported to have antiviral, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antioxidant activities.

Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species, such as singlet oxygen, superoxide, peroxyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite. An imbalance between antioxidants and reactive oxygen species results in oxidative stress, leading to cellular damage. Oxidative stress has been linked to cancer, aging, atherosclerosis, ischemic injury, inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's and Alzheimer's). Flavonoids may help provide protection against these diseases by contributing, along with antioxidant vitamins and enzymes, to the total antioxidant defense system of the human body. Epidemiological studies have shown that flavonoid intake is inversely related to mortality from coronary heart disease and to the incidence of heart attacks.

The recognized dietary antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and carotenoids. However, recent studies have demonstrated that flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables may also act as antioxidants. Like alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), flavonoids contain chemical structural elements that may be responsible for their antioxidant activities. A recent study by Dr. van Acker and his colleagues in the Netherlands suggests that flavonoids can replace vitamin E as chain-breaking anti- oxidants in liver microsomal membranes. The contribution of flavonoids to the antioxidant defense system may be substantial considering that the total daily intake of flavonoids can range from 50 to 800 mg. This intake is high compared to the average daily intake of other dietary antioxidants like vitamin C (70 mg), vitamin E (7-10 mg) or carotenoids (2-3 mg). Flavonoid intake depends upon the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and certain beverages, such as red wine, tea, and beer. The high consumption of tea and wine may be most influential on total flavonoid intake in certain groups of people.

The oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been recognized to play an important role in atherosclerosis. Immune system cells called macrophages recognize and engulf oxidized LDL, a process that leads to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the arterial wall. LDL oxidation can be induced by macrophages and can also be catalyzed by metal ions like copper. Several studies have shown that certain flavonoids can protect LDL from being oxidized by these two mechanisms.

Comments By: Dr.'s Donald R. Buhler & Cristobal Miranda

Does Dark Healthy Chocolate Help Cardio and Blood Flow?

2009-02-20T04:53:00.003-07:00

Researchers have some news for chocolate lovers: it may be good for you. Scientists reported preliminary evidence recently that cocoa and other chocolates may keep high blood pressure down, your blood flowing and your heart healthy.

The research, the latest which correlates eating flavonoid-rich foods with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease(1), was presented in February at the American Association for the Advancement of Science's (AAAS) annual meeting in Boston.

One study found that a substance in cocoa helps the body process nitric oxide (NO), a compound critical for healthy blood flow and blood pressure. Another study showed that flavonols in cocoa prevent fat-like substances in the bloodstream from oxidizing and clogging the arteries, and make blood platelets less likely to stick together and cause clots. Flavonoids are plant compounds with potent antioxidant properties; so far, scientists have found more than 4,000 kinds. Cocoa beans contain large quantities of flavonoids, and so do red wine, tea, cranberries, peanuts, strawberries, apples and many other fruits and vegetables.(2) The flavonoids in chocolate are called flavonols.

Generally, science has found that dark chocolate is higher in flavonoids than milk chocolate.(3) The way that cocoa powder and chocolate syrups are manufactured removes most flavonoids.
Promotes Blood Flow

The other study compared how blood platelets responded to a flavonol-rich cocoa drink with 25 grams of semi-sweet chocolate pieces and a blood-thinning, 81-milligram aspirin dose. The research found similar reactions to the two from a group of 20- to 40-year-olds: both the drink and the aspirin prevented platelets from sticking together or clotting, which can impede blood flow.(5)

In other words, flavonol-rich cocoa and chocolate act similarly to low-dose aspirin in promoting healthy blood flow. Reducing the blood's ability to clot also reduces the risk of stroke and heart attacks.

Acai is the world's healthiest chocolate.

2009-01-03T15:20:00.001-07:00

You need to discover the Acai dark chocolate breakthrough! There has never been a healthier dark chocolate snack ever invented that is combined with Acai berries and packed with ORAC benefits that slows aging and
prevents disease. In fact, there is no other item in the health food store or online that you can order that has this much ORAC in their products, unless you take several capsules, and that's no fun.... why not indulge in a very
decadent and healthy dark chocolate snack?

Can Dark Chocolate Really Help PMS?

2008-12-01T14:26:00.001-07:00

Author: Cori W.
Title: Finally, my PMS is under control

My PMS has been increasingly difficult to manage and tolerate over the past few years. I have friends that have tried various methods of treatment for the same problem. They all seemed to be trading one set of problems for another with medication. I started eating healthy chocolate less than three months ago and my PMS has virtually disappeared!!

What an improvement in my quality of life!!

Testimony of a Healthy Dark Chocolate User

2008-12-01T14:19:00.001-07:00

Author: Debra H.
Title: I have my life back!

Healthy chocolate products have turned my life into one I enjoy living much more now.

The first thing I noticed was that I was able to stand and walk without pain. I used to go all day without eating, and that is not healthy for anyone. Healthy chocolate gave me back my appetite, but for healthy foods. I was on PM pills every night for well over 15 yrs. and now I sleep through the night and wake ready to LIVE my life.

My thought process has cleared up and is much more defined. I am so thankful for that. I really felt my body coming back to life after first using healthy chocolate products. I believe my body was getting what it needed without me realizing it. What it was starving for, for so long. My blood sugar would drop so bad before I started on healthy chocolate, that I felt weak and needed to lie down all the time. Also chest pain has ceased! I can truly say that healthy chocolate products saved my life. Give it a try!

Brand NEW Product is Our Sipping Chocolate

2008-11-19T16:18:00.004-07:00

Xoçai™ Sipping Xocolate

Inspired by centuries of European tradition and infused with high-antioxidant and flavonoid-rich chocolate, the Xoçai™ Sipping Xocolate is the ultimate chocolate experience. Xoçai™ Sipping Xocolate will be to the chocolate lover what espresso is to the coffee connoisseur.

Our Company’s mission is simple; we promote good health, well-being, and the opportunity for an abundant life through our Healthy Chocolate, Xoçai™.

If you would like to try this new delicious chocolate.

Please feel free to comment to this post, it is appreciated.

Debra Park

Benifits of Dark Chocolate and Research

2008-09-05T15:34:00.004-06:00

Is chocolate healthier than green tea?

"Chocolate contains up to four times the anti-oxidants found in tea." Sound too good to be true? In fact, that was the conclusion of a recent study by Holland's National Institute of Public Health and Environment. Researchers found that chocolate - specifically dark chocolate - contains 53.5 mg of catechins per 100 grams. (Catechins are the powerful anti-oxidants that help prevent against cancer and heart disease). By contrast, 100 ml of black tea contains a mere 13.9 mg of catechins.

Eating chocolate to stay healthy? Well, why not? Scientists have established that there are important health benefits to be gained from drinking red wine, so why not chocolate as well? But I wouldn't trade my morning cup of tea for a box of truffles just yet. For one thing, as Karen Allen points out in a report for the BBC, the amount of cocoa powder in chocolates may be quite small. Chocolates often contain other ingredients, such as saturated fats, that more than outweigh the health benefits to be gained from cocoa's cancer-fighting chemicals.

More importantly, the Dutch researchers were not comparing chocolate to green tea, which is rich in catechins. Furthermore, evidence is mounting that scientists have only begun to discover the numerous health benefits associated with drinking green tea. Still, a cup of green tea with a chocolate biscuit or a piece of dark chocolate sounds like a great way to begin the day!

Small Daily Doses of Dark Chocolate Improve Blood Flow

A UCSF team reports that small daily doses of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate consumed over a two-week period improved blood vessels' ability to dilate, or expand.

Researchers also report that a particular flavonoid thought to be beneficial for blood vessel function, epicatechin, was absorbed at high levels in the blood.

"This is the longest clinical trial to date to show improvement in blood vessel function from consuming flavonoid-rich dark chocolate daily over an extended period of time," says lead author Mary Engler, PhD RN, professor of physiological nursing in the UCSF School of Nursing. "It is likely that the elevated blood levels of epicatechin triggered the release of active substances that vasodilate, or increase, blood flow in the artery. Better blood flow is good for your heart."

The study appears in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Previous clinical studies have shown the beneficial effects of chocolate on the function of blood vessel endothelium [the inner lining of blood vessels] after either a single dose or several doses of chocolate over a few days.

Flavonoids, a group of chemical compounds with antioxidant properties, are derived from a variety of plants. They have been shown to promote several beneficial effects in the cardiovascular system, including decreasing oxidation of LDL cholesterol (a harmful process that allows cholesterol to accumulate in blood vessels); inhibiting aggregation of blood platelets (which contributes to the risk of blood clots that produce stroke and heart attack); and decreasing the body's inflammatory immune responses (which contribute to atherosclerosis).

In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, eleven people received 46 grams (1.6 ounces) of dark, flavonoid-rich chocolate every day for two weeks, while ten others received dark chocolate with low-flavonoid content. At the end of the two-week trial, Engler and her team recorded the ability of the principal artery in the arm, the brachial artery, to expand. The brachial artery's dilation measurements correlate well with those of the coronary arteries that supply the heart.

The team measured the artery's "flow-mediated dilation" using ultrasound to obtain the brachial artery's diameter immediately after deflating a blood pressure cuff that had been inflated for five minutes on study participants' forearms. "This measurement actually gives us a "videoclip" of an individual's vascular health, and can be helpful in determining whether one is at risk for heart disease," says Engler. The induced increase in blood flow after the cuff is deflated causes release of many dilator substances, such as nitric oxide and prostanoids, which relax the artery. Flow-mediated dilation is expressed as the percentage maximum change in vessel diameter from baseline.

In the high-flavonoid group, flow-mediated dilation increased from an initial 10.2 percent at the beginning of the study to 11.5 percent at the end of the study, while in the low-flavonoid group dilation decreased from 10.7 percent at the beginning of the study to 9.74 percent at the end of the study. The mean increase in flow-mediated dilation between the two groups showed a statistically significant difference, says Engler.

"Improvements in endothelial function [the ability of the artery to dilate] are indicative of improved vascular health and a lower risk for heart disease," Engler says. "Arteries that are able to dilate more have increased blood flow, and this is especially important for the heart."

Engler and her group also found that concentrations of the cocoa flavonoid epicatechin soared in blood samples taken from the group that received the high-flavonoid chocolate, rising from a baseline of 25.6 nmol/L to 204.4 nmol/L. In the group that received the low-flavonoid chocolate, concentrations of epicatechin decreased slightly, from a baseline of 17.9 nmol/L to 17.5 nmol/L.

The authors also found that the participants did not have increased blood cholesterol levels after these daily snacks of chocolate for two weeks.

The study was funded by the UCSF School of Nursing. Chocolate for the study was provided by the American Cocoa Research Institute, Vienna, VA.

In the past five years, scientists have developed increasingly accurate methods of detecting flavonoids. Only a few years ago, dark chocolate was found to contain more flavonoids than any other food that's been tested so far, including such flavonoid-rich foods as green and black tea, red wine and blueberries, says Engler. "Many people don't realize that chocolate is plant-derived, as are the fruits and vegetables recommended for a healthy heart. Chocolate is made from the cacao bean found in the fruit pod of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao)."

Standard manufacturing of chocolate destroys about a quarter to half of its flavonoids. Now, some companies are using processing methods with reduced heat and alkalization, which can preserve as much as 70 percent to 95 percent of the chocolate flavonoids.

The UCSF study suggests that the beneficial effects of eating small doses of chocolate can be found in eating chocolate with higher amounts of cocoa, i.e., at least seventy percent cocoa content, says Engler. Additional information on current chocolate research can be found at the Chocolate Information Center website (http://www.chocolateinfo.com) sponsored by Mars, Inc., she says.

The current study supports many other studies that have shown benefits from cocoa flavonoids, Engler says. "Even though we still have a long way to go before we understand all of chocolate's effects, for now, there's little doubt that in moderation and in conjunction with a healthy, balanced diet and exercise we can enjoy -- and even benefit from -- moderate amounts of high-flavonoid dark chocolate."

Engler's co-author, Marguerite Engler, PhD, RN, presented an abstract of this research at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in New Orleans in November 2002. Mary Engler and her team also presented the work at the Experimental Biology 2003 meeting in San Diego in April 2003. The abstract was published in The FASEB Journal in conjunction with that meeting.

Other researchers who participated in the study are Amanda Browne, RN, BS, Elisa Chiu, RN, MS, Michele Mietus-Snyder, MD, all from the Department of Physiological Nursing, UCSF School of Nursing; Chung Y. Chen, PhD, Ho-Kyung Kwak, PhD, Paul Milbury, MS, and Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, FACN, all from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University, Boston, MA; Mary J. Malloy, MD, Cardiovascular Research Institute at UCSF; and Steven M. Paul, PhD, Office of Research, UCSF School of Nursing.

New Research Study Links Dark Chocolate to Vascular Health Benefits

2008-09-03T21:43:00.006-06:00

Xocai Healthy Chocolate

Visit my web page and take a free tour and look around see main page for web page.

Research Findings:  

Dark chocolate has a positive impact on blood pressure

and blood vessel function.

HAVE LIFE AT IT'S BEST!



The Best Life Diet is not a typical diet plan. Instead, it's a way of living--of eating, exercising and viewing life--that promotes weight loss and fosters lifelong weight control. The three-phased plan offers a gradual approach to developing healthy habits that not only increase fitness and reduce body weight, but can also dramatically reduce the risk for diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions. A healthy body makes a healthy attitude and frame of mind.



Feel free to leave a comment.

Contact me for any questions you may have at :

303-872-0476
800-707-5003 ext: 3955
Fax: 877-350-8816
Skype: powerimpression

2008-08-31T09:58:00.000-06:00

Among the earliest people to discover the health benefits of chocolate were the Maya and their predecessors, the Olmec culture, in approximately 1,500 B.C. These ancient peoples in the Americas used the chocolate bean as the main ingredient in a bitter beverage revered for its nourishing qualities and ability to boost energy and stamina. It was also used to treat stomach and intestinal complaints, infections, fever and coughs. The drink was a mixture of fermented and roasted cocoa paste, water, chili peppers, cornmeal, and other ingredients blended into a spicy, frothy, and sugar-free health drink.

In fact, for the ancient Mesoamericans, chocolate was more than just a favored health food. It also played an important role in their religion, society and economy.

Archaeological evidence indicates that over time, cacao-based foods became such an important part of their living that they perfected the growing and harvesting of the bean. Other evidence shows that cacao was involved in Mayan celebrations, including marriages and religious ceremonies. This drink was particularly favored by the royalty and religious leaders. Numerous ancient glyphs and Mayan vessels depict this beverage being consumed by priests and royalty.

Because of its value and popularity, the cacao bean became a significant trade item for the Mayans. In fact, the Aztecs—who could not grow the cacao tree because of their dry climate—became so enamored with the bean that they often required that citizens and conquered peoples pay their tribute in cacao beans. The Aztec word for the delightsome drink—xocolatl, which means “bitter water”—is what was eventually transformed into the modern English word, “chocolate.”

Until the 1500s, no one outside of the New World knew anything at all about chocolate, although historical records indicate that other European explorers, including Columbus, at least encountered cacao in the Americas. It wasn’t until Hernán Cortés conquered Mexico in 1521 that the Spanish began to learn about the delicious flavor of chocolate. Cortés and his men had their first taste of the beverage from the confiscated treasure stores of the Aztecs. Cortés described it as a “divine drink” that “builds up resistance and fights fatigue.” He observed that “a cup of this precious drink permits a man to walk for a whole day without food.”

It was most likely the Spaniards who discovered that mixing the bitter chocolate base with sugar and a variety of spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and the like, proved to be more suited for the European palate. Eventually, chocolate beverages gained popularity among European aristocrats and remained a status symbol for the wealthy until the chocolate candies were first mass-produced for the public in the nineteenth century. As late as the 1600s, the drink was still advertised as a health elixir in England.

The new, sweeter chocolate concoctions were brought back to the Americans by European settlers. President Thomas Jefferson is said to have remarked, “The superiority of chocolate for health and nourishment will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America that it has in Spain.”

Our love affair with chocolate continues today, though the sweet cocoa confections we enjoy today bear little resemblance to the bitter Mesoamerican brew.

Chocolate Testimonies

2008-08-31T09:53:00.000-06:00

Title: Insulin-dependent diabetic finds relief with healthy chocolate and acai

Being an insulin-dependent diabetic has made it challenging to control my blood sugar even though I have an insulin infusion pump that continuously administers insulin. I am also allergic to chocolate... or so I thought until I tried a healthy chocolate beverage with acai! I am happy to say that I am NOT allergic to the pure cocoa used in this beverage, and I am enjoying it daily with taste and health benefits I never thought possible.

Today I am using less insulin with incredible blood sugar control, even when I eat the chocolate with acai nuggets as opposed to drinking the beverage. When I am feeling stressed, overtired or hungry between meals, I have a nugget or a one-ounce serving of the chocolate acai beverage. Literally within a few minutes I feel more relaxed with sharper focus and better concentration to handle the task at hand. The swings of high and low blood sugars cause poor concentration and focus, which sometimes makes it extremely difficult to read or complete tasks. These swings can also cause aches and pains and poor circulation. As long as I take at least three ounces of the chocolate and acai beverage each day, I do not experience the aches and pains that were waking me in the middle of the night.

I am looking forward to a lifetime of great health with deliciously healthy chocolate in spite of the fact that I am a diabetic! My husband also enjoys healthy chocolate with acai at least three times a day. He has replaced glucosamine and other antioxidant products he was using for aching legs and knees and has discovered incredible results of his own. We are indeed headed for a happy retirement while sharing this product with others so that they may experience great health of their own.

Author: Jedd N. HIgh Blood Preasure
Title: Healthy chocolate combats family history of high blood pressure
My family has a history of high blood pressure. I am 37 years old, and my blood pressure was averaging between 150 and 159 before I started to drink a healthy chocolate antioxidant beverage. Since I started using the drink, my blood pressure has dropped 40 points. Needless to say, my entire family is using this healthy chocolate with acai.

Author: JD M.
Title: "I sleep every night, all night."
When I was 16 I went on a horseback trip in the Uintah mountains. The horse got spooked and I was bucked off and landed on a rock, shattering portions of my vertebra. We were 26 miles in with no chance to get other help, so the other members of the group made a travois and drug me out on it. It took three days. I haven't slept a full night through since then, and that was ten years ago. I started taking five ounces daily of a chocolate antioxidant beverage with acai and within four days slept the whole night through! In fact, I was late to work for my first time in five years. I don't have an alarm because I always wake up long before it is time to leave because I can't sleep. I have since had to buy an alarm, because I sleep every night, all night.

Author: George O.
Title: "I have been able to manage these mood swings much more readily."
Over the years, I have faced the challenge of mood swings. From time to time, I've had to manage the effects of serious mood swings that occur as a result of major forms of stress, which we all face. I have noticed over the last three months, while taking these wonderful wellness products, that I have been able to manage these mood swings much more readily. Although I am still on some medication and under a physician's care, I plan to reduce the level of medicinal intake in the immediate future. I am a firm believer that the immune system can repair the body of many conditions when it has the appropriate nutrition available so that the effect of free radicals can be diminished.

Good Chocolate vs. bad

2008-08-31T09:44:00.001-06:00

Good Chocolate vs. bad chocolate

Over the centuries, chocolate has come full circle. Most of the modern world currently views chocolate as a tasty but quite unhealthy indulgence meant for only occasional consumption. But health-conscious consumers are now learning that dark chocolate, devoid of some of the unhealthful ingredients usually paired with it in confectionary products, possesses some impressive health properties.

Scientists are rediscovering what ancient Mesoamericans knew centuries ago: chocolate can be very good for you. It may have been cultivated for over two thousand years, but in the last five years science has finally begun to discover the actual health benefits of cocoa. Research is just beginning and is especially promising in the area of phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids.

However, not all chocolate is created equal. Most candy bars and chocolate foods commonly found in grocery stores are not what you’re looking for. These are typically high in refined (white) sugar, milk fats, and hydrogenated oils—ingredients that replace the truly healthful nutrients found in cocoa.

It’s important to remember that what makes chocolate healthy is the chocolate itself—that is, the pure cocoa that comes from the bean of the cacao plant. Studies confirm that the chocolate products with the highest levels of polyphenols and procyanidins should contain at least 70 percent pure cocoa powder. What this means is that, while it’s not necessarily bad to have “milk” chocolate, which contains a higher percentage of cream or milk, the more pure cocoa the chocolate contains, the more beneficial it will be. Bitter is better.

Also, many chocolate confections are processed using a procedure known as “Dutching,” which neutralizes the chocolate’s acidic flavor and modifies its color by adding alkali-potash to the cocoa nibs before roasting. However, this alkalinization process also removes most of the chocolate’s natural polyphenols. Another process commonly used by confectioners that can damage cocoa’s healthy nutrients is roasting: when chocolate is prepared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, its antioxidant compounds are destroyed.

So when looking for a healthy chocolate product, look for a dark chocolate product with the following properties:

	Has not been alkalized.

	Has been dried and cool-pressed rather than roasted.

	Consists of at least 70 percent pure cocoa.

	Contains cocoa butter instead of milk fats or hydrogenated oils.

	Contains natural, low-glycemic sweeteners—such as raw cane—rather than refined sugar.

What is Healthy Chocolate?

2008-08-31T09:36:00.000-06:00

Cocoa Flavanols and Brain Perfusion

Author: Fisher ND, Sorond FA, Hollenberg NK.
Source: J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 47 Suppl 2:S210-4.

Foods and beverages rich in flavonoids are being heralded as potential preventive agents for a range of pathologic conditions, ranging from hypertension to coronary heart disease to stroke and dementia. We and others have demonstrated that short-term ingestion of cocoa, particularly rich in the subclass of flavonoids known as flavanols, induced a consistent and striking peripheral vasodilation in healthy people, improving endothelial function in a nitric oxide-dependent manner...

We Are What We Eat!

What food we put into our bodies markedly determines how we feel and function. The increase in fat intake, decrease intake of fruits and vegetables, lack of exercise, exposure to smoking, and environmental hazards are contributing to chronic illnesses and indirectly aging. We can change or at least slow down wrinkling, mental confusion, dental decay...

What Do the Numbers Mean?

Science is just in its infancy in determining how much antioxidants we need and what types of antioxidants are needed in what proportion. There are many claims of one product having a higher antioxidant number than another product but how do we know? There are several types of scientific test available to measure the quantity of antioxidants in a product.