Chocolate Anyone???

Chocolate anyone?
No?? I know, chocolate is bad for our health, we should stay away from it…but should we? Well not according to many studies being done right now. The right kind of chocolate can be quite healthy for us. In fact, raw cacao is actually a superfood! The problem with most chocolate available to us today is two fold: the way it is processed, and the fillers that are added to it. But if you were to take chocolate in its base form, you would be eating a product full of nutrients, including a sizeable amount of antioxidants.

So what are antioxidants? Antioxidants are molecules that prevent the damaging and aging effects of free radicals in your body and raw cacao is full of them in fact, unprocessed Cacao is the highest source of antioxidants in the world. These powerful molecules have been linked to improving cardiovascular health, reducing inflammation, lowering cholesterol, and overall improved health. The studies are everywhere. Simply Google “Dark Chocolate antioxidants” and let the reading begin. So why is the majority of chocolate we see in the stores today considered unhealthy? Here are two reasons.

First, the way chocolate is processed today actually destroys the natural antioxidants found in raw cacao. Heating the chocolate is what kills these powerful antioxidants. Chocolate that is processed in a cold press method retains those antioxidants. One such product is Xocai Healthy Chocolates by MXI Corp. All of their chocolate is processed using a non-alkalized, non-lecithinized and cold-pressed method.

Another way chocolate is made unhealthy is through all the added sugars and fats. You see, raw cacao, in its base form is very bitter. To make it palatable, most companies add a lot of fat and sugar. As we all know, excessive fats and sugars are not a part of a healthy, balanced diet. For example, sugar has a negative impact on our immune system, causes diabetes, and other serious health complaints.

So what is the verdict on chocolate? Not all chocolate is good for you, but not all chocolate is bad for you. It comes down to how it’s processed and what ingredients are added to it. For a healthy alternative, check out Xocai healthy chocolates. You will be pleasantly surprised by the health benefits and the taste.