CACAO: NATURE’S SUPREME ANTIOXIDANT SOURCE

Can chocolate truly be healthy? YES! Let’s explain why: Everyone has heard of free radicals. It’s well known that these rogue molecules damage healthy cells, which in turn results in unhealthy tissues, organs and eventually, an unhealthy body. Fortunately, cacao, the nutritional source of healthy chocolate, is nature’s top source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that neutralize free radicals and slow their damage.

“How important does that make [cacao antioxidants]? I would say very important," explained Harvard physician and researcher Norman Hollenberg, MD regarding the benefits of cacao’s antioxidants.

Among cacao’s most impressive phytonutrients are several types of polyphenols, largely recognized as some of the most powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds known today. The most powerful and prominent polyphenols in cacao are flavanols.

Hundreds of studies have found that flavanols possess distinct and powerful properties, including the ability to:

•Minimize inflammation throughout the body
• Slow free radicals
• Protect the heart and blood vessels
• Support the immune system
• Promote antibacterial/antiviral activity in the body
• Relax and dilate blood vessels
• Modify blood sugar levels
• Protect the brain
• Preserve cellular integrity
• Protect and repair the liver
• Positively modify hormone activity
• and much more!

Importance of ORAC: Developed by the USDA, the ORAC6 test is an assessment that measures the antioxidant content of foods. The ORAC6 score helps consumers know if the foods they are considering are good sources of antioxidant nutrients. Xoçaí’s products are some of the highest ORAC6 foods available today.

ANTIOXIDANT SCORES

You can find Xoçaí chocolates in the Wellness Village on the PRO website.