Posted on 03/22/2014 8:06:52 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Love dark chocolate?
Now you can eat it with much less guilt because scientists have discovered why it is so good for us.
Previous studies have found daily consumption of dark chocolate reduces blood pressure and is good for the heart.
Now scientists have discovered why this happens - and its down to how our guts ferment the fibre in cocoa beans.
Researcher Maria Moore, from Louisiana State University said: 'We found that there are two kinds of microbes in the gut: the 'good' ones and the 'bad' ones.
'The good microbes, such as Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria, feast on chocolate.
'When you eat dark chocolate, they grow and ferment it, producing compounds that are anti-inflammatory.'
This naturally forming anti-inflammatory enters the bloodstream and helps protest the heart and arteries from damage.
Bad gut bacteria, such as Clostridia and some strains of Escherichia coli (E.coli) trigger inflammation, leading to bloating, diarrhoea and constipation.
The team tested three types of cocoa powder, the raw ingredient used to make chocolate, in an artificial digestive tract consisting of a series of modified test tubes.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Eat em up yum yum.
LOL, Uncle George is that you?
Dark chocolate? Sounds racist s/
Nowhere in this article does it say how much! THat opens the door for binging. Truffles, here come I.
That does it-—I’m moving to New Orleans. You know — Ray Nagin’s ‘chocolate city’.
Wished dark chocolate wasn’t so bitter or I would go for it.
Does Nutella qualify as dark chocolate?
There's some creative marketing going on...Call it Dark chocolate with some good stuff to make it taste better...in reality...call it the semi sweet chocolate chips make over.
Yeah I don’t like dark chocolate either. I really like milk chocolate.
I'm going to Aldi's. I will buy one of each and let you know how my taste testing turns out...besides "Happy".
Only if you eat it at night.
Cocoa powder, which is what they tested, is miles away from chocolate candy, which is loaded with sugar and fat. So go ahead, scarf down all the cocoa powder you want, provided that it’s processed without sugar. It’s bitter and will get up your nose.
OTOH, there ARE ways to use cocoa powder in healthy foods. Black Bean Brownies for example. I’ll post the recipe, if anyone would like to see it.
They are sweetened with dates. People like them.
After eating this stuff, milk chocolate is like sucking on a sugar cube!
I do - late at night - with a spoon.
Lindt, ‘A Touch of Sea Salt’ 47% dark.
That is all. :)
It's an acquired taste. Once you go dark, you never go back.
Dip a few slices of BACON in some and enjoy.
I’d like to see that recipe. Some others might, too. Thanks!
I’d go for a black bean brownie recipe.
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