Filed under: 1 | Tags: B-vitamins, Cocoa, copper, health, magnesium, vitamin E
Literally dozen of studies demonstrate the health benefits of consuming cocoa, which is the main ingredient in “dark” chocolate. Cocoa contains a host of nutrients such as B-vitamins, copper, calcium, iron, magnesium and vitamin E. More impressive are its health-promoting high levels of phytonutrients (phyto means “plant” in Greek), which are largely responsible for cocoa’s antioxidant capabilities.
Antioxidant compounds are found in a variety of foods, typically plants and fruits that are rich in color. In fact, evidence suggested that the darker the skin of a fruit is, the more antioxidants it contains. The same is true with chocolate-the more bitter or dark the cocoa is, the more antioxidant compounds it contains.
Cocoa is rich in antioxidant flavonoids called flavonols, which include procyanidins, epicatechins and catechins. Studies have shown that people with high blood levels of flavonoids have lower risk of heart disease, lung cancer, prostate cancer asthma and diabetes. This reduction in health risks is due to the many beneficial properties of flavonoids: they possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer and antiviral properties.
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