| Price : $47.88
Most of us love our chocolate. But did you know there are significant differences between the supermarket varieties, and certified organic product. Commercial interests try to dupe us into believing their product is the real thing, when it left that blissful state long ago on the way to the Supermarket.
Fair Trade
When it comes to chocolate, most of us are aware that when Europeans first took this fruit to Africa, there was child slave labor involved in Cocoa production. These days many farmers use their children to help them take care of their farms, but unfortunately unscrupulous chocolate companies such as Nestle and Hersheys, are more interested in short term profits, than the welfare of African children!
Recently Cadbury announced that they are switching over to Fair Trade Chocolate after intense lobbying from consumer and green groups. Most organic chocolate, on the other hand, is certified free trade. Those wanting a clear conscience when eating chocolate will wish to make sure their favourite brand is fair trade certified!
Pesticides and Toxins
Chocolate in its raw form has been shown to have relatively low levels of toxins such as lead. Unfortunately, this is not the case after processing. Here is the result of one study.
"What's interesting is that cocoa beans tested had an average lead concentration of < 0.5 ng/g, "one of the lowest reported values for a natural food," the study points out. But, by contrast, "lead concentrations of manufactured cocoa and chocolate products were as high as 230 and 70 ng/g."
"In fact, a team of American and Nigerian researchers found that lead levels in raw cocoa beans were 60 times lower than lead levels observed in processed chocolate products, the Chicago Tribune reports".
Chocolate absorbs everything from its environment. That means that toxic substance used in manufacture are going to get into the chocolate! Certified Organic Chocolate comes from areas where pesticides are not used. It may still have residues, but they are generally much lower. Organic chocolate is generally not processed using chemicals, often a larger source of contamination than those in the growing environment.
Additives
When selecting an organic chocolate, make sure they are not using refined sugar in the production. Commercial chocolates have quite a few additives.
Here is the list from Cadbury dark Chocolate. Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Milk Solids, Emulsifiers (Soya lecithin, 476), Flavour. May contain traces of Nuts. Dark Chocolate contains Cocoa solids 45%.
Unfortunately, with no certified foods, including chocolate, there is no requirement to list pesticides, herbicides, lead or other heavy metals in the product. Even the ingredients listed can come from many sources, and may be very detrimental to human health. Omission is a common practice amongst food giants to avoid scrutiny!
Conclusion
When all is said and done, Organic Chocolate is a better alternate to Commercial varieties. It does cost more and Dagoba sell a 56.7 gram square for .95 a piece.
Organic chocolate has many advantages, particularly if it is cold pressed and may retain much of the antioxidant and other nutrient value of the raw cocoa bean.
As Valentine's Day edges ever closer, department stores build larger displays of gift ideas. It isn't unusual to walk into Target or Wal-Mart and find shelves of heart-shaped boxes, all filled with a variety of truffles, nut clusters, and other bon-bons. Indeed, the days leading up to February fourteenth mark records sales of chocolate, and while mass-produced brands are enjoyable and affordable, sometimes this holiday calls for something truly special. This year, why not splurge and give your sweetheart the gift of gourmet, artisan chocolate?
Across the country, one will find a multitude of chocolatiers that specialize in unusual, yet delicious sweets. From antioxidant rich dark chocolate, enrobing juicy berries and thick nuts, or creamy caramels laced with sea salt, there is no limit to the variety of gifts available for this holiday for lovers. Some names you may have seen in area grocery stores and boutiques, while others offer ordering and shipping via the Internet. If you choose to order a gift basket or selection, be sure to research availability and delivery times to ensure your treats arrive in time. Know, too, that not all artisan chocolate is expensive, and for a special bar or collection of truffles even a little goes a long way. Here are just a few brands to consider for a unique, scrumptious Valentine.
Vosges Chocolate: This upscale New York-based chocolatier offers a selection of bars, bons bons and other delectables infused with ingredients one would normally not associate with dessert. Vosges is perhaps best known for their popular bacon and chocolate confections - bars and shaped solids that deliver a salty, smoky sweetness with each bite. For the sweetheart who loves both, why not purchase a pair of Mo's Bacon Bars, in milk and dark. Or, try a box of enrobed caramel marshmallows or exotic truffles with a hint of ginger, paprika, and other wild flavors?
Moonstruck Chocolate: Based in Orgeon, this delightful chocolate company offers up some cute as a bug truffles this Valentine's Day - "bug" being the operative word. Their Love Bugs are dark ganache truffles flavored with raspberry or strawberry, with painted on smiles that make the candies almost too sweet to eat. Almost! Be sure to visit them online for collections featuring bon bons flavored with champagne, creme brulee, and Irish cream among other taste sensations.
Organic Chocolates: If your sweetheart is thinking more "green" than red these days, you may wish to present her or him with a selection of organic and fair-trade bars. Some of the more noted brands you might find at your local grocer include Green and Black's, Endangered Species, and Dagoba Chocolate, all of which carry different varities - from milk to dark to white, plain or with nuts or berries or other yummy extras.
This year, take a break from the ordinary in chocolate and present a tasty, exotic Valentine that will disappear quickly, but remain in your loved one's memory for a long time to come.
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With new research on the health benefits of dark chocolate, many name brand chocolates are trying to position themselves as healthy, when they don't really offer you any health benefits whatsoever. To identify brands of truly healthy chocolate, you must know what substances in chocolate contain the health value. For example, studies have shown that flavonoids, which are found in dark chocolate, may help to lower blood pressure. But the levels of flavonoids in chocolate depend entirely on how it's processed. Often, milk chocolate, due to its greater processing, has fewer flavonoids than dark chocolate. Typically, the higher the percentage of cocoa found in the chocolate, the more flavonoids (and other healthy substances) it contains.
While healthy, organic, raw or minimally-processed chocolates are not yet the mainstream, they are becoming widely available and recognized as a delicious and responsible choice. A healthy chocolate should contain cacao content of 70% or greater. Chocolates containing less have more fillers, more fat and fewer (if any) health benefits. It's important to read the labels. Just because chocolate is dark, doesn't necessarily mean it offers any health benefits.
The following chocolate brands have been celebrated for their unique tastes, health benefits and strong ethical commitments.
Divine is a farmer-owned company with sustainable development efforts in many countries. The fair-trade Divine Dark Mini Bars are the perfect chocolate treat and contain 70% cacao.
Dagoba makes an award-winning dark chocolate bar that includes chiles, nibs and is 74% cacao. They have coined the term "Full Circle Sustainability" to describe their commitments to ethics and social responsibility.
Equal Exchange makes organic chocolate bars with up to 80% cacao that are vegan, gluten-free and contain no refined sugars. They work with fair trade cooperatives and farmers across the world.
Ignafire produces natural chocolate with no commercial processing or industrial equipment. They're vegan-friendly and low in sugar. Some are subtly flavored with cinnamon, roasted coffee beans or crushed almonds.
Theo uses green energy sources to power their factory along with sustainable packaging and printing methods. Try their fair-trade certified blend that combines chocolate from Ghana, Panama and Ecuador.
All of the above brands offer mail order as in addition to being found in health food stores and larger chains such as Whole Foods and Trader Joes.
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Science has confirmed with many studies and research that eating chocolate is indeed healthy. Researchers have found that dark chocolate in particular has both emotional and physical health benefits when consumed in healthy portions. Chocolate has properties that increase mental awareness as well as a multitude of health benefits for our body. Studies have also shown that people who eat two to three chocolate bars a month live longer than those that don't consume any chocolate.
Researchers have found that consuming chocolate increases the dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain indicating that this food has an antidepressant effect. Also, chocolate helps to decrease fat intake by curbing a person's appetite for fats. In addition, one of the properties of cocoa is that it has the overall effect of decreasing appetite.
The chocolate that is most beneficial to our health is dark chocolate. One of the main ingredients of dark chocolate is cacao that contains flavonoids, and these are an excellent source of antioxidants that protect our bodies from the effects of free radicals that can be very damaging.
Unfortunately, we are always being threatened by free radicals from the air that we breathe and the different foods that we consume. Eating foods that have plenty of flavonoids also helps our immune system and helps the body fight diseases such as cancer, asthma, allergies, and type2 diabetes.
The flavonoids that are found in Cocoa prevent harmful clots from forming that may cause damage to the heart and other areas of the body. These flavonoids also allow increased blood flow by aiding the blood vessels to dilate with ease. In addition, cocoa has properties that aid in the stopping the inflammatory process that can be very damaging to the body.
Dark chocolate also helps your heart by helping your vessels retain their flexibility. And, it helps with your body's blood circulation therefore improving your blood pressure levels. Also, epicatechin, a nutrient found in chocolate, helps to avoid heart attacks and strokes by relaxing and widening our blood vessels.
Cocoa is known to reduce cardiovascular problems by increasing the amount of good cholesterol (HDL) in the body. HDL is responsible for cleaning and removing the harmful fats from the body's blood vessels.
In fact, several years ago a study was conducted in Germany with over nine thousand participants, and it revealed that people who ate on an average more than seven grams of chocolate daily had lower risks of stokes and heart attacks, and they also experienced lower blood pressure levels.
Cocoa and dark chocolate are also a good source for the fiber needs of our diet. And, believe it or not chocolate hardly contains cholesterol, and if it does it is because of the milk ingredients that are added. Chocolate is a food that is derived from a plant and plants do not produce cholesterol.
Source of Vitamins and Minerals
Dark chocolate is a great source of vitamins and minerals. It is full of magnesium and iron, and it also contains vitamin B that helps to boost your energy levels. It also contains copper and potassium that are important for maintaining good health.
The magnesium levels that are found in a dark chocolate bar typically contain over 12% of the body's daily requirement. This is important preventing chronic diseases like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular health problems.
History
Chocolate first appeared in the Mayan and Aztec cultures approximately 4000 years ago. The cacao plant is thought to have originated in the Amazon region and is the main ingredient in chocolate. According to Aztec legend their god Quetzalcoatl gave the cacao tree to the Aztec people. He taught them how to prepare the seeds by roasting and grinding them to form a paste that could be mixed with water. This mixture became known to the Aztec's as chocotatl and they believed that it provided a person with knowledge and wisdom when consumed.
Chocolate was introduced to Spain by the Spanish conquistadores in the 1500s. The Spaniards added different condiments and sweeteners to enhance its flavor. Chocolate was considered a delicacy among the wealthy and became the favorite drink in Europe until it was replaced by coffee and tea in the 19th century.
In the twentieth century solid chocolate bars were introduced in Europe. At about this time the cocoa bean was discovered to have beneficial health properties, and that's when the popularity for chocolate began to surge.
Chocolate as Part of Your Diet
If you are going to include chocolate as part of your diet, then what is recommended is dark chocolate. Eat the amount that is healthy for your daily nutritional needs. Whether you like your dark chocolate with nuts or just plain, dark chocolate is the best choice. Always try to avoid any fillings in chocolate, such as nougat or caramel, these fillings just add extra calories.
The whole purpose of eating pure dark chocolate is for its health benefits aside from its delicious taste. A person should not consume more than three and a half ounces of chocolate per day. This is the recommended amount of chocolate to eat to be on the healthy side.
And, just because you are eating chocolate does not mean that you are receiving its healthy benefits. Avoid consuming dark chocolate while drinking milk because this prevents the antioxidants from being absorbed by your body. There are also several types of chocolates that are not healthy for you because they're loaded with fats and sugar.
Here is a list of top quality dark chocolate bars:
Dagoba Eclipse - 87% Cacao
Green and Black's Dark - 85% Cacao
Valrhona Noir Extra Amer - 85% Cacao
Scharffen Berger Extra Dark - 82% Cacao
Chocolove XOXOX Extra Strong Dark - 77% Cacao
Chocolate is great to eat because of its health benefits and nutritional value, but like everything else if we consume too much of a good thing it can also be bad. So, the next time that you are eating a delicious dark chocolate bar think of all of the health benefits that you are receiving, but just remember to eat with moderation.
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Dagoba Organic Chocolate 10X 6 Oz Organic Unsweetened Dark Chocolate Baking Bar Unsweetened Bar Scored Into 1 Oz. Portions For Ease Of Use.: (Note: This Product Description Is Informational Only. Always Check The Actual Product Label In Your Possession For The Most Accurate Ingredient Information Before Use. For Any Health Or Dietary Related Matter Always Consult Your Doctor Before Use.)
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