Yumm, CHOCOLATE

You say ho ho ho, I say... "co co coa." Tis the season! Sugar consumption tends to go on the rise during the holiday season. If you don't want to change the size of your belt buckle I say go koo koo for cocoa. Pure cocoa, that is. 

Raw Cacao—the pure source of ordinary chocolate—was revered by ancient cultures as the food of the gods and is a rich source of flavonoids. Cardioprotective effects including antioxidant properties, inhibition of platelet activity, and activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase have been ascribed to the cocoa flavonoids. Studies show that High cocoa polyphenol rich chocolate may reduce the burden of the symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome. 

Data

ORAC scores for the Top 10 Antioxidants Foods (per 100 grams)

1) Raw cocoa powder* 95,500
2) Raw cacao nibs* 62,100
3) Roasted cocoa powder 26,000
4) Organic Goji Berries* 25,300
5) Acai Berries* 18,500
6) Dark Chocolate 13,120
7) Milk Chocolate 6,740
8) Prunes 5,770
9) Raisins 2,830
10) Blueberries 2,400

Source: US department of Agriculture/Journal of American Chemical Society


Here is a great company that sells some awesome Cocoa!..