ecobites

Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

It's the scientific research every chocoholic has been dying to hear. Dark chocolate and cocoa have more anti-oxidant capacity than fruit juice, according to a study released recently in the Chemistry Central Journal. Chocolate products also have more heart-healthy flavanols and polyphenol, the study found. The good news doesn't apply to hot cocoa mix, which is processed.

"When looking for a sweet snack, a square of dark chocolate might, in fact, be your healthiest choice," said Suzanne Steinbaum, a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. She wasn't surprised by the findings, noting the anti-oxidants keep arteries in tip-top shape and help prevent heart disease. The study, conducted by the Hershey Company, compared cocoa powder and products with fruit-based powders and juices.

The differences between pomegranate juice and dark chocolate weren't significant, researchers found. Still, dark chocolate exceeded other juices in the anti-oxidant test.

"Cacao seeds should be considered a 'superfruit' and products derived from cacao seed extracts, such as natural cocoa powder and dark chocolate, as 'superfoods,'" the researchers said.

Dark chocolate long has been touted for its health benefits, including lowering blood pressure.

So grab a piece of dark organic chocolate and wash it down with pomegranate juice!

The research, conducted by scientists at the Hershey Centre for Health & Nutrition, in Pennsylvania, appears in the Chemistry Central Journal.

Nothing tastes as good as homemade . . . anything, and chocolate is certainly no exception.

Handmade Chocolate
Cacao may grow on trees, but real chocolate comes from a kitchen! Throughout chocolate’s history, every culture has put its culinary fingerprint on this blissful food. Now all the necessary ingredients included in Navitas Naturals Organic Superfood Chocolate Kits put the extraordinary experience of real-deal chocolate alchemy directly in your own hands.

The Power of the Chocolate Kit
You may have heard that chocolate can actually be good for you, and excitingly, this chocolate kit doesn't make just any ordinary chocolate. Every ingredient provided in these kits is a Navitas Naturals organic and raw superfood: including premium cacao, maca, lucuma, mesquite, and superberries. These are immensely powerful foods: packed with free-radical fighting antioxidants, dense with minerals and vitamins, and overflowing with phytonutrients. The result is chocolate in its most potent form: a sugar-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, and truly energy-charged treat.

Chocolate School 101
By using this kit, it’s easy to create the gourmet decadence of pure homemade chocolates. Choose from three recipes: Goldenberry, Cacao Nib and Goji Berry.

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