Cacao - Chocolate Power

From antiquity to the present, chocolate has been one of the most beloved products, and for more than 90% of its history chocolate has been consumed as a beverage. "The divine drink builds up resistance and fights fatigue. A cup of this precious drink (cacao) permits a man to walk for a whole day without food." Montezuma II Indulge Your Health: Cacao beans contain over 300 chemically identifiable compounds making it one of the most complex food substances on Earth. Unprocessed, raw cacao is packed with potent antioxidants called flavonoids. Research has demonstrated that flavonoids play an important role in protecting the cacao plant. Further research has concluded that these same natural protective compounds in cacao beans, when consumed by humans, improves health by protecting cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.

Acai Berry
	THE SUPER ANTIOXIDANT BERRY FROM THE AMAZON RAIN FOREST Acai (Ah-sigh-ee) is a high-energy berry harvested on co-op farms from a special Amazon palm tree. They contain amino acids, essential fatty acids (Omega 6 and 9), and higher amounts of antioxidants than any other fruit. The acai berry has over 14 times more antioxidants than raw spinach, and 10 to 30 times more anthocyanins than red wine.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are molecules which prevent the damaging effects of oxygen free radicals in the body. The damage caused by oxygen free radicals is called oxidation. ORAC The antioxidants in any food are measured by its capacity to absorb free radicals. Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) values as determined by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture measure the capacity of a food to absorb oxygen free radicals. The USDA website recommends a Daily Antioxidant Intake Range of 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC. However, recent studies have suggested that more active lifestyles require higher levels of antioxidants. Research now indicates that if we obtain on a daily basis at least 5,000 ORAC, our bodies in most cases will be able to fight off the damaging effects of free radicals.  Recent studies on cacao have concluded that best results were obtained by consuming daily 600-900mg of Total Flavonoids, plant- based antioxidants that help the body’s cells resist damage by free radicals.

ORAC of Foods
	Unprocessed Cacao Powder 26,000, Acai Berry 18,500*, Dark Chocolate 13,120, Prunes 5,770, Raisins 2,830, Blueberries 2,400, Blackberries 2,036, Strawberries 1,540, Spinach, Raw 1,260, Broccoli Florets 890, Red Grapes 739, Cherries 670. Source: Data from U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the Journal of the American Chemical Society. *Source: Brunswick Laboratories