Chocolate Alert

Guest post from Susan Taylor at RDoncall

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Are you a lover of all things chocolate? If you are, then you’ve probably heard about some of its many health benefits. However, not all chocolate is created equal!  Beware of chocolate labeled “Cocoa Processed with Alkali” or “Dutch Processed Cocoa” as it has an alkali base used to counteract some of the chocolate’s acidity.  Many chocolate products on the market contain the additive Lecithin, which is used as an emulsifier to keep the cocoa and cocoa butter from separating, thereby, extending the chocolate’s shelf life.  Processed versions are often also loaded with added sugars, fat, milk, fillers, and preservatives.  Unfortunately, processing destroys most of chocolates beneficial flavonoids.  The best option, packed with the most health benefits, is chocolate labeled raw, unprocessed, non-alkalized, and non-lecithized.

Cacao, the bean from the Cacao tree, is possibly the healthiest part of chocolate as it contains over 300 compounds including the antioxidants theobromine, phenylethylamine (PEA), serotonin plus vitamins A, C, E, pantothenic acid, B1, B2, B3 and minerals magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, and manganese.  Theobromine, PEA, and serotonin are all mood enhancers which may account for the sense of well-being you experience when eating chocolate. Studies have shown chocolate may help improve blood circulation, cholesterol levels, boost brain power, and act as a mild cough suppressant.

Cacao’s ORAC score (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) is near the top of the list for antioxidant capacity. ORAC measures the effectiveness of an antioxidant to absorb free radicals that cause cell or tissue damage – the higher the ORAC score, the higher the ingredient’s antioxidant power.

Instead of a box of highly processed, unhealthy chocolates, consider show your valentine some love this year by replacing their morning java with a raw cacao beverage – definitely a healthy alternative as it is loaded with antioxidants and bliss-inducing compounds.

A great supplement to consider is Miessence’s BerryRadical which contains not only certified organic cacao powder but the certified organic antioxidant foods pomegranate, acai berry, goji berry, raspberry, blueberry and strawberry – plus two special ingredients that take the ORAC score “off the charts” compared to most products on the market.  The ingredients are freeze-dried to preserve freshness and BerryRadical contains no chemicals, preservatives, or fillers. Check out the Berry Radical presentation below for more information about this amazing product. For less than the price of a fancy latte, you can find your bliss the healthy way – give BerryRadical a try!

Berry Radical presentation – Don’t miss page 23 especially!

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For information on how you can try a 10-day supply of Berry Radical, click here.