Healthy Chocolate
Chocolate. It's a word associated with "candy," and is often stereotyped as contributing to obesity, acne, and cavities. However, it may surprise you to know that an impressive and rapidly growing body of research, as well as thousands of years of traditional use, point to chocolate (specifically cacao) as being effective in supporting and protecting the body's systems.
The use of cacao originated with the Olmec civilization over 3,500 years ago. Later Mayans and Aztecs utilized the potent botanical in a nutrient-rich beverage called "xocolatl." Xocolatl is praised in historical texts for its stamina- and energy-building properties, and eventually became a favorite delicacy of the European elite.
From antiquity to the present, chocolate has been one of society's most beloved foods. And it's important to note that before the mid-1800's, chocolate was consumed almost entirely as a beverage. As time passed and solid eating chocolate became more available, undesirable ingredients such as refined sugar, waxes, added fats, and other fillers became more common. In addition, manufacturers increasingly utilized processing methods that neutralized the beneficial antioxidant content of their chocolate products.
