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| I am confused about chocolate. I read that it's good for me because of its flavonoids. But I've also heard that alkali processing strips cocoa of most of these antioxidant chemicals. If the good stuff is processed out, its chocolate still healthy? How can I find chocolate that is not alkali-processed? | to Top |
Many studies on the health benefits of cocoa flavonoids have been funded by the Mars candy company. It developed a special method (Cocoapro to retain these antioxidant compounds during processing. Independent research from Italy confirms that dark chocolate can lower blood pressure and help improve the response to insulin (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March, 2005). Previous studies have shown that cocoa flavonoids can make blood vessels flexible and keep blood platelets from clumping together in clots. Look for chocolate containing natural-processed cocoa instead of alkali-processed (also termed Dutch-processed) cocoa. Hershey and Guittard make both kinds. Other makers of high-quality chocolates include Sharffen Berger, El Rey and Valrhona.
Graedon, Joe and teresa Graedon. 2005, April 17. Naturally processed cocoa has benefits. The Sunday Oregonian. p. L6
Updated: Saturday, December 29, 2007.
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