It's Your Life December/January 2015 - 2016 | Page 10

10 It’s Your Life Magazine considered a culinary nut that is a known super food rich in anti-oxidants phytonutrients. After cacao seeds are roasted we have what we call cocoa. Some of the nutrients are lost after processing the cacao seeds but both cacao and cocoa are both high in flavonoids polyphenols that have powerful antioxidant powers that are so important to good health. Both cocoa and cacao contain theobromine (a bitter alkaloid) that is similar to caffeine but does not have an addictive affect to the body. Theobromine is a powerful treatment for edema and improves vasodilating effects. A 100 gram bar of dark chocolate with 70-85% cocoa contains 11 grams of fiber. It also has the RDA of 67% of Iron, 58% of the Magnesium, 89% of Copper, and 98% for Manganese. Plus it will also supply your body with plenty of potassium, phosphorus, zinc, selenium and vitamins A, B1, B2, D, and E. Dark Chocolate may lower the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and some studies show that it can help lower blood pressure and reduce risk of a stroke. Dark chocolate can help improve brain functions, may help in those that are battling fatigue and sleep disorders. According to Dr Merocla dark chocolate is linked to more than 40 health benefits. There are so many ways to enjoy dark chocolate – indulge your taste buds and enjoy a healthy tasty treat with chocolate covered organic strawberries, Cara Cara Oranges, try bananas, or any fruit that fits your fancy. Try using organic dark chocolate for a crowd winning dip. There are so many ways to enjoy chocolate you can choose your favorite way but please remember to consume in healthy moderation. For the ultimate health benefits choose organic high quality dark chocolate that contains at least 70 percent cocoa. Please avoid the mainstream highly processed with toxic additives, preservatives and flavorings. It is important to remember when you eat unprocessed cocoa the body can process the chocolate much more efficiently due to the lower sugar levels. All you need is a small square of organic dark chocolate to reap the many health benefits that can improve your all over well-being, brain functions and keep you on the road to a healthy lifestyle. Marla Gates Owner of http://www.organic4greenlivings.com, Marla worked in the healthcare field for over 10 years and has dealt with MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities) for over 20 years. She has gained much knowledge on natural healing and living green in all aspects of life. Her goal is to help educate others about alternatives solutions to health issues, protecting the environment, eating and living a healthy lifestyle. Issue 5 S U B S C R I B E