The most important health benefits of cocoa butter include skin and hair care and boosted immunity. It also helps prevent signs of aging and reduce inflammation.
via 6 Surprising Cocoa Butter Benefits | Organic Facts
Tag Archives: health
Mexican researchers find anti-cancer properties in chocolate- .
Researchers at Mexico’s IPN School of Medicine are carrying out tests with epicatechin, a molecule present in chocolate that causes cancer cells to self-destruct in cell cultures and animal models, according to the Scientific and Technological Advisory Forum.
Epicatechin, found naturally in cocoa, red wine, or green tea, can kill cancer cells selectively without affecting normal cells according to these specialists.
Additionally, they have found that combined with other drugs currently used in clinical therapies, such as paclitaxel (Taxol) and tamoxifen (Tamoxifen), it accelerates their effects and decreases the amount required.
The studies have been carried out in the laboratory with cell cultures, but now scientists are already carrying out research on animal models to check their innocuousness in living beings and in the medium term, they want to test on humans.
Bron: Foro Consultivo
How To Make The Most Nutritious Regular And Chocolate Nut Milk – It’s Raw, Vegan And Gluten Free!
A mixture of nuts provides a highly nutritious milk!
The Right Blend
Most people make milk from a single nut but I’ve developed a mixture of nuts that provide a great selection of nutrients. Most nuts provide manganese, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, thiamin and omega-6 as well as antioxidant phytochemicals. But in addition to that, I’ve selected particular nuts that deliver other important nutrients – almonds, walnuts and Brazil nuts.
Almonds provide lots of vitamin E.
Walnuts are rich in ALA omega-3 fatty acids.
Brazil nuts are packed with selenium, a natural antioxidant.
This Chocolate Milk is Good For You!
By adding raw cacao, a touch of vanilla and more stevia to this milk, you get all of the heart healthy advantages of the rich flavanols in chocolate without the sugar and the calories. So go ahead and enjoy that chocolate milk!
Nut Milk
Raw Vegan, Gluten Free
1/4 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup raw walnuts
4 Brazil nuts
Filtered water for soaking nuts
4 cups filtered water
1 (1 gram) packet stevia, or to taste
pinch salt (optional)
Soak all nuts together in filtered water for 6 or more hours. Rinse well after soaking.
Place nuts, 4 cups filtered water, stevia and salt in a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth.
Strain nut milk through a fine mesh strainer or nut bag.
Nut residue can be used in baking or in raw cookies.
Refrigerate until needed and stir before serving. Milk will keep for several days.
Chocolate Milk
Raw Vegan, Gluten Free
2 cups nut milk from above recipe
2 tablespoons raw cacao
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 to 3 (1 gram) packets stevia
Return strained nut milk to blender and add cacao, vanilla and stevia. Blend until smooth.
Yumm, chocolate milk that’s good for you!
“Health, excellent or ill, is passed to our children not just through our genes but primarily through our recipes.”
Thanks to : Joanne L. Mumola Williams
I’ve long been fascinated by our attraction to chocolate.
cacao harvest, Santa Lcia Peru.
Photo of cacao beans courtesy of Michael Nickel under the Creative Commons License.
I’ve long been fascinated by our attraction to chocolate.
A lot of times, like with my kids, it appears to be just another way to get a sugar hit. However, while low-carbing, I discovered that a couple of squares of very dark chocolate satisfied my chocolate craving instantly. So what is it about the mysterious cacao bean that enhances human existence so well?
Of course. You know how it makes you feel, don’t you? Chocolate, or rather, the cacao bean contains antioxidants, flavonoids, catechins and something magical called ‘theobromine’.
There is no bromine in theobromine. The word comes from ‘theo’ – god and ‘brosi’ food. So this chemical compound has the effect of making chocolate seem like ‘food of the gods’ by enhancing serotonin levels in the brain. The small amount of theobromine in chocolate is safe and has several benefits to human health, such as lowering blood pressure at the same time as stimulating heartbeat. It has been shown to improve the condition of asthmatics and also contributes to chocolate’s reputation as an aphrodisiac. However, in large quantities theobromine is poisonous. Dogs, cats and birds should never be given chocolate as they are extremely susceptible to theobromine poisoning.
Cacao Nibs are the partially ground cacao beans that are the natural source of all chocolate products. With their crunchy texture and intense flavor, cacao nibs are healthy, gourmet, and a delicious addition to all kinds of treats. From adding them into a brownie batter, sprinkling on ice cream, or even just tossing into a trail mix, there is virtually no wrong way to add more of this real chocolate into your life. Plus, with cacaos soaring levels of antioxidants, and trace minerals like magnesium and iron, you can feel good in every way about enjoying this chocolatey superfood.
Chocolate comes from the beans or seeds of the tree, theobroma cacao. Theobroma cacao originally grew only in Central and South America but now is grown widely in tropical regions throughout the world. A large portion of cacao comes from Africa, where it is vital to local economies.
After harvesting the beans are transported to the factory where they are roasted and bashed around a bit. The light, outer shells are removed and the broken beans are now known as ‘nibs’. These nibs are most definitely chocolate although they are very bitter. At this point, chocolate is at its most healthful to humans. Nibs can be used in cooking, added to cereals, eaten as-is or pulverised and added to drinks. They are definitely an acquired taste but once you get used to them, they become most enjoyable.
Photo courtesy of TANAKA Juuyoh under the Creative Commons license
Is Chocolate Really Good for Our Health? Or Is It Just a Scam?
There is a lot of science about how great chocolate is for our health. Read this lens to see all about just how amazing dark chocolate really is.
Check out all the studies that have been done proving that dark chocolate really is even more fantastic than we thought!
It’s all about the science after all.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20858571
WHY DO WE LOVE CHOCOLATE? 