{"id":339,"date":"2011-01-04T15:11:28","date_gmt":"2011-01-04T20:11:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.drterikelley.com\/?p=339"},"modified":"2012-10-01T07:09:22","modified_gmt":"2012-10-01T12:09:22","slug":"chocolate-is-good-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tractsinc.com\/wellness\/chocolate-is-good-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Chocolate is Good for You"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Chocolate lovers everywhere-celebrate!<\/em>\u00a0 Chocolate is good for you!\u00a0 But, before consuming for its health benefits, be very picky.\u00a0 Most commercially available chocolate has been processed in a way that destroys its healthful compounds and is mixed with damaged oils, refined sugar, and condensed or powdered milk.\u00a0 Instead, look for dark chocolate with a cacao level of 70% or greater.<\/p>\n

Due to the rich soil required to grow the cacao bean, dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, compounds that negate free radicals that lead to premature aging and cause degenerative diseases in the human body.\u00a0 In fact, cacao has a high ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) rating, outperforming green tea.<\/p>\n

Cacao is naturally high in fatty acids.\u00a0 These fatty acids are important for proper brain function, skin and hair health, and hormone regulation.\u00a0 Cacao supports heart and circulatory health due to its levels of catechins and flavonols, which not only increase nitric oxide but also reduces blood clotting to allow for better blood flow.<\/p>\n

Cacao is also high in anandamides, tryptophan, and theobromines, which supply natural energy and give a life similar to caffeine but without its highs and lows.\u00a0 Cacao does contain caffeine but at a much lower level than coffee.<\/p>\n

Natural cacao is high in vitamins and minerals including:<\/p>\n