A Prescription for Chocolate

Several years ago I visited my brother, who was serving in the Peace Corps in the mountains of Panama. Each morning we planned our day, while enjoying a rich cup of some of Central America’s finest coffee. That is, until we reached the San Blas islands.

The San Blas are inhabited by an indigenous culture called the Kuna. The Kuna have their own morning ritual, but it doesn’t involve coffee. They drink a cocoa beverage that is rich in natural flavanols. In fact, they drink this beverage throughout the day.

I was reminded of this when I read a recent study which shows that the Kuna Indians who live on the mainland of Panama have a normal distribution of heart disease and high blood pressure. By contrast, those that still live in the Islands (and consume this beverage daily) have an extraordinarily low incidence of these conditions. Another study showed that the relative risk of death from heart disease on the Panama mainland was 1,280% higher than on the islands. The relative risk of death from cancer was 630% higher.

Clearly, there can be other dietary reasons why the Kuna who live in the cities have health concerns that their relatives at home do not. But these studies strongly support what is already known about cocoa – it is extremely rich in heart-healthy and brain-boosting antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients, like magnesium.

“A striking response…”

Another recent study, published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed that consumption of cocoa caused a “striking blood flow response” to the brain and improved brain function. This particular study was sponsored by Mars Inc., the company that makes M&Ms, Snickers and Twix.

I agree with their research. And you should consume cocoa often. But don’t get the idea that a Snickers bar will do the trick. First of all, milk chocolate is full of sugar. This would offset any benefits of the cocoa. And besides, milk chocolate has very little cocoa anyway.

Instead, choose a high quality dark chocolate – the less sugar, the better. Or, buy a container of organic, unsweetened cocoa powder (NOW Foods makes a good product). You can mix it with coffee, water or raw milk. You also add it to smoothies or yogurt. If you prefer it sweetened, add a few drops of stevia.

A little dab’ll do ya…

The Kuna Indians are known to consume as much as 40 cups of their cocoa beverage per week. And it certainly has served them well. But you don’t have to consume near that much cocoa to derive great benefits.

Researchers in Holland followed 500 men for 15 years. They found that those who ate the most cocoa per day were 50% less likely to die of heart disease. But they discovered this benefit was conferred with just 4 grams of cocoa per day. That is about two teaspoons.

Antioxidant power that is off the charts…

Some of the greatest benefits of cocoa come from its broad spectrum of antioxidants. In fact, cocoa is one of the most antioxidant-rich foods on the planet.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture ranks the antioxidant power of foods by a measure known as the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). The higher the ORAC score the greater the ability of that food to neutralize “free radicals” – reactive molecules that accelerate aging and increase the risk of disease.

You are probably aware that blueberries have a very high ORAC score compared to other foods. In fact, with an ORAC of 6,552 blueberries have almost five times the free-radical scavenging power of broccoli. But that doesn’t hold a candle to the antioxidant power of cocoa. At 80,933 units, cocoa has 12 times greater antioxidant value than blueberries!

And these are not the only vital nutrients in delicious chocolate…

Almost 70% of the U.S. population is deficient in magnesium.

No big deal, you might say. But according to the Centers for Disease Control, magnesium levels in the population are inversely associated with death from all causes. That is not surprising as magnesium is necessary for more than 300 functions in your body. It maintains normal muscle and nerve function. It helps to support a healthy immune system and build strong bones. It works to regulate blood sugar and is involved in energy metabolism.

And it is absolutely critical for heart health. It lowers blood pressure levels, prevents hardening of the arteries and helps to regulate heart rhythm. Hundreds of studies show that your level of magnesium is intricately connected to your risk of heart attack. And not surprisingly, a UVA School of Medicine study confirmed that those with the lowest levels of magnesium were twice as likely to suffer heart attack.

According to Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, author of The Miracle of Magnesium, most people require about 900 mg per day. That is three times what the government says you need. And as you might have guessed, cocoa is one of the richest food sources of magnesium (along with leafy green vegetables, pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, almonds and avocados).

Chocoholics rejoice!

So how do you get more of this healing superfood in your diet? Here is how I do…

A few days a week I add a scoop to my morning cup of organic coffee. I add it to protein shakes. I also enjoy a beloved slice of Wellness Bakeries’ Chocolate Bliss cake (all natural and no sugar added). And I frequently snack on raw cacao nibs and cacao beans. They have a nutty texture and rich chocolate flavor and make a great snack mixed with almonds and a few organic raisins.

If you are a “chocoholic” you already know the sweet pleasures of this ancient food. It has the power to boost your mood and calm your worries. And now you know it can protect your health in ways that few other foods can do.

To Your Health,

Jon Herring
Editorial Director
Total Health Breakthroughs

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