We found the site below shows that flavanol-rich cocoa also increases blood flow to the skin, and improves oxygen supply to our cells.

Consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa acutely increases microcirculation in human skin.

So it would seem that if we include dark chocolate antioxidants into a balanced diet, we are doing good, rather than harm to our hearts!



Cocoa significantly inhibited atherosclerosis, lowered cholesterol



It has been showed that flavanol-rich cocoa and chocolate antioxidants can increase the blood flow to our brains, suggesting that this tasty food may be useful for preventing dementia and strokes, and also for maintaining our heart and blood vessels in better health!

So an indulgent treat can be healthy too?

Do you Love making Cakes?
I have cake recipes for every type of cake you can think of and there are also birthday, chololate, Christmas and wedding designs as well as cakes for lots of other occasions.

In our culture, it is generally believed that when you get older you are likely to suffer from heart disease, arthritis, or a stroke. In other cultures, this isn't so! What is the difference?

When you walk into a Supermarket, look at the amount of space given to fresh foods, compared to the variety and amount of processed and packaged foods, and compare this trend with the cultures that prefer markets with mostly fresh foods on display for sale!

Getting back to cocoa; Cocoa has been shown to be most effective on the endothelial function of older people, the people who are most at risk.

Toward prevention of Alzheimers disease



Aging and vascular responses to flavanol-rich cocoa.






Rays Gourmet Food for discriminating taste in food and wine!

Flavanols are the main flavonoids found in cocoa, and research over the past decade has identified flavanols as having a wide range of beneficial health and antioxidant effects!

Generally, we have found from our reading that cocoa is higher in flavonoids than milk chocolate, and that the way that cocoa powder and syrups are manufactured removes most of the flavonoids, therefore, head for the dark chocolate antioxidants!

Here are more sites for information on cocoa, and chocolate antioxidants.

Cocoa and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review



In other words, flavonol-rich cocoa acts similarly to low-dose aspirin in promoting healthy blood flow. Reducing the blood's ability to clot also reduces the risk of stroke and heart attacks.

Do you crave Chocolate? Especially when feeling a little stressed? Well, eating a little chocolate makes you feel good. We feel relaxed after we eat chocolate. The scientific reason is because the chemical called serotonin found in chocolate is a neurotransmitter that regulates many functions, including mood, appetite, and sensory perception. In moderation, a little chocolate can help on those stressful days. Check out these easy chocolate recipes to help ease a little of the stress and give you more chocolate antioxidants.

Effect of cocoa and tea intake on blood pressure



A new process to develop a cocoa powder with higher flavonoid content



A single-dose ingestion of flavanol-rich cocoa acutely reverses endothelial dysfunction

And the good news for smokers is that cocoa appears to increase the pool of nitric oxide. This helps the vascular system to protect against the specific damage done by smoking!

(Before you write to us. No we are not condoning smoking!)

Immune effects of cocoa



The effect of flavanol-rich cocoa on the fMRI response to a cognitive task

Why do we feel good when we have cocoa?

The stimulants theobromine, caffeine, tyramine and phenylethylamine in cocoa provide a much-needed lift. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, lessens anxiety by producing the neurotransmitter serotonin; endorphins, the body's natural opiates, reduce sensitivity to pain.

Anandamide promotes relaxation, and last but certainly not least, cocoa is a natural analgesic, and high-fat, cocoa foods trigger the brain's production of natural opiates.

So let's sum up. Cocoa gives you an energy lift, less anxiety, a reduction in pain, who wouldn't recommend something that did all that?

While caffeine does encourage alertness, there is less caffeine in cocoa than there is in a cup of coffee. (There are about 30 milligrams of caffeine in your average cocoa bar, while a cup of coffee contains 100 -150 mgs.)

Dark-chocolate has more than 13,000 ORAC units and milk- chocolate has about 6,700, according to the Chocolate Manufacturers Association in McLean, Va. Unsweetened powdered cocoa starts out with almost twice as much as dark-chocolate, but when it's diluted with water or milk and sugar to make hot cocoa, the flavonoid total per serving plummets to about half that in milk-chocolate.

Dark chocolate

At the end of the day, we see from the research done on cocoa that if we find cocoa that is processed correctly so that is high in flavonoids, and if it has not been diluted with syrups and milk fat, we can add this food into our balanced diets confident that it is giving us broad health benefits; particularly if we are getting older and need more chocolate antioxidants!

As is the case with any other junk food - anything beyond a casual consumption will result in reduced - not improved health.

Enjoy chocolate antioxidants on occasion for pleasure, not as a health food.

If you want higher levels of flavonoids, choose dark chocolate (look for a high cocoa content) and cocoa not processed with alkali (that is, not “Dutch” cocoa).

Better yet, eat more fruits and vegetables, which are still the best source of flavonoids in your diet, since they also contain vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals not found in chocolate!