"...all true chocoholics know that chocolate is a vegetable. It comes from the cocoa bean, beans are veggies, 'nuff said."[1]

Once you read this article about choosing healthy chocolate, you will understand that chocolate is undoubtedly evolving and you will know how to choose for your health. While unhealthy chocolate options will always be available, there is now a healthy 70% organic chocolate that not only enhances mood, improves cognitive function, raises HDL levels (good cholesterol) and lowers blood pressure, it will also detoxify the body.

The Craving

Did you know that 50% of people in the world say they could not live without chocolate? We are told that 9.5 kilos of chocolate is eaten per person per year. Chocolate is a multi-million dollar business and now, there is a healthy option.

How To Choose A Healthy Chocolate

The first thing to look for when choosing a healthy chocolate is the quality of the beans which have preferably been naturally sun dried. Of course, the beans should also be organic. Dark chocolate is the most healthy choice and it should contain at least 70% Cacao powder. It should also be kosher, vegan and vegetarian approved and be free from heavy metals and toxins. Cocoa is a good source of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals including magnesium, calcium, iron, sulphur and manganese to name a few. It will also contain some of the B Vitamins.

The use of vegetable oil and sweeteners in chocolate also determines how healthy the chocolate is. For example, the replacement of cocoa butter (which makes chocolate creamy) by vegetable oil, a practice used by some manufacturers, is in violation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's definition of milk chocolate. Altered labelling can be extremely misleading so be cautious when reading this information. Further, sweeteners other than unprocessed raw sugar cane may be dangerous as many toxic substances may be found in refined sugar.

Raw organic chocolate is a very healthy chocolate option. It may be high in antioxidants which are very beneficial to health. You should look for a high Oxygen Radical Absorbant Capacity (ORAC) value. ORAC is a method of measuring antioxidants in a wide variety of foods. Eating high antioxidant capacity fruits and vegetables (and chocolate) is believed to play a role in the free radical theory of anti-aging. Research has found that 100 grams of raw cacao powder has an ORAC value of 26,000 making it the highest level of any normal food. There is a new chocolate on the market which, laboratory tests have confirmed, has an ORAC rating of 33,928 per piece.

The Amazing Health Benefits

A large number of studies have verified a variety of health benefits gained by eating dark chocolate. Here are some benefits of choosing a healthy chocolate:

* protection of the heart by raising HDL levels (good cholesterol) and lowering blood pressure;
* a reduction to the stickiness of blood platelets by the flavanols found in dark chocolate. Blood flow may also be increased thus reducing the risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes;
* strong and beautiful nails, hair and skin through the sulfur contained in cacao powder. Sulfur may also help to detoxify the liver;
* The ORAC score per 100 grams of unprocessed raw cacao is 28,000, compared to 18,500 for Acai Berries, 1,540 for Strawberries, and only 1,260 for raw Spinach; and
* the promotion of serotonin that brings about positive feelings through the Tryptophan in Cocoa.

Learn what to look for when choosing chocolate. It seems impossible to think that lives can be changed and health restored or greatly improved by eating healthy 70% organic chocolate! It is vital for your health.

Conclusion

If this information seems insurmountable, there is a new chocolate player in the field that 'ticks all the required boxes' to be positively healthy. It has an incredible 37,208 ORAC value per square and the power to absorb free radicals. It is certified organic chocolate and rainforest alliance, making it possibly the best healthy chocolate around. It also contains 5 drops of Activated Liquid Zeolite which removes heavy metals and from the body thus reducing your toxic body burden. It is pesticide and toxin free, certified kosha, vegan organic, rainforest certified, 70% raw organic cacao, and devoid of nasty substances such as corn syrup and emulsifiers used to make most commercial chocolate cheap and smooth.

When you next go shopping for chocolate, make sure you check the standard criteria for healthy chocolate described in this article before you buy. Your body will love you.

1. Virtual Chocolate - http://www.virtualchocolate.com/quotes.cfm