Healthy Chocolate

Healthy Chocolate?! Isn't that an oxymoron? How can chocolate be healthy? We're told to limit our consumption of it as children or it'll make us sick. We avoid it altogether as teens because it will give us acne. When we're pregnant, we crave it with any number of strange additives like pickles and olives but we're told the caffeine in it will give our unborn children colic. Join us on a journey to discover the facts about chocolate and how it affects our health.

While chocolate is typically eaten for pleasure, recent studies have suggested that cocoa or dark chocolate may possess certain beneficial effects on human health. Cocoa contains flavonols, plant-based compounds that also are credited with giving red wine its heart-healthy benefits. These flavonols have a significant anti-oxidant action, protecting against LDL oxidation, perhaps more than other anti-oxidant-rich foods and beverages. Some studies have also observed a modest reduction in blood pressure after consuming dark healthy chocolate daily.

One such study on healthy chocolate and the circulatory system was conducted at the Cologne (Germany) Hospital by University of Cologne researcher Dr. Dirk Taubert. As the study's lead author, Dr. Taubert said the blood pressure reductions with dark chocolate were small but still substantial enough to potentially reduce cardiovascular disease risks. Study volunteers weren't followed long enough to measure that effect conclusively, but, said Taubert, "It is very unlikely that other factors may explain the blood pressure reduction." These results echo other small studies of cocoa-containing foods. Another study made at Griffin Hospital, Yale University Prevention Research Center, agrees that cocoa products have definite health benefits. Cocoa contains more antioxidants than most foods. Antioxidant effects of cocoa may directly influence insulin resistance and, in turn, reduce risk for diabetes. Further, cocoa consumption may stimulate changes in the immune response.

Cocoa can protect nerves from injury and inflammation, protect the skin from oxidative damage from UV radiation in topical preparations, and have beneficial effects on satiety, cognitive function, and mood.

A small amount of healthy, dark chocolate about 30 minutes before a meal may help one to feel full or satisfied sooner than waiting until after a meal to have a chocolate 'dessert'. So, that little 'treat' may help to prevent overeating.

Recent studies have shown improvements to brain function. Eating chocolate before driving has been shown to sharpen alertness while eating other types of snacks has shown no similar improvement in driving simulator studies.

The particular portion of the brain affected most seems to be the pleasure center. It has been noted that depressed people eat more chocolate because it makes them feel happier. Mental health studies have shown that happy people don't crave chocolate in the same way, even though they might still enjoy a bite of it from time to time. So, lighten up, eat your chocolate, and be happy!

Of course, the unconstrained consumption large quantities of any energy-rich food such as chocolate is thought to increase the risk of obesity without a corresponding increase in activity. Raw chocolate is high in cocoa butter, a fat which is removed during chocolate refining, then added back in in varying proportions during the manufacturing process. Due to the natural bitterness of chocolate, manufacturers typically add other fats, sugars, and milk as well, all of which increase the caloric content of chocolate. In the Cologne study, Taubert and his colleagues used small amounts of the least expensive chocolate available. Each serving contained just 30 calories each.

Dark Chocolate

It appears that consuming milk chocolate or white chocolate, or drinking fat-containing milk with dark chocolate may negate the health benefit as one may have to consume large quantities of chocolate containing many calories. If those calories go unused the result would be an obesity issue which, in turn, is one of the risk factors for heart disease. Dark chocolate, on the other hand, is more closely related to raw chocolate and has fewer additives making it a healthier choice. Another option to combat obesity is to exercise in conjunction with the use of dark chocolate allowing one to gain the best possible health benefit from the use of chocolate. "Rationally applied, cocoa products may be part of an antihypertensive diet," Dr. Taubert said.

Processed cocoa powder (so called Dutch chocolate), processed with alkali greatly reduces the antioxidant capacity as compared to "raw" cocoa powder. Processing cocoa with alkali destroys most of the flavonoids. Cold-processed cacao has been found to preserve the highest levels of anti-oxidants of any of the processing methods.

In summary, look for cold-processed cacao with the lowest fat content, consume it in moderation, and couple this with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. The benefits to your health could be endless. So there is the possibility for Healthy Chocolate. But, we have just started to scratch the surface.

Xocai

by MXI Corp

Pronounced (show-sigh)

Xocai is a trademark name for a healthy chocolate line from MXI Corp. The Founder and President of MXI Corp is Jeanette Brooks.

Originally, Brooks started in the education field. During that time she became involved in the network marketing field. As her networking experience grew, she developed her unique leadership and sales styles. Brooks has founded several network marketing corporations as well as handling the development of many of the products sold by these firms and designing much of the packaging and marketing materials.

This very creative woman has become a highly successful business person. Brooks has brought health and wellness to a new level with her products. The Xocai product line is the result of her efforts to find a healthy way to produce chocolate which tastes great and still maintains its natural healthful properties.

Andrew Brooks is the co-founder of MXI Corp as well as its Chief Operating Officer. His background includes the founding and directing of a health food distribution company in western Canada which provided weight loss products which were safe for diabetics. His interest in health and wellness as it relates to diabetes and obesity has fueled his rise in this field.

Bottom line: MXI Corp is a highly successful network marketing company with a truly healthy product line thanks to the efforts of a very creative team, Jeanette and Andrew Brooks. No, one doesn’t have to be a network marketing sales associate to enjoy the benefits of this super product. Anyone can buy Xocai chocolate products. Of course, if you love chocolate and can’t stop talking about it, why not make it your job to share what you love with others and make a little money on the side?

Healthy Chocolate?

So, what is it about Xocai that makes it truly healthy chocolate? First of all, it is made from pure unprocessed cacao that is blanched, unfermented, sun-dried, non-roasted, non-alkalized, non-lecithinized, and cold-pressed. This is a “mouthful”, but the short version is that MXI Corp holds the rights to proprietary processes which allow Xocai to maintain the integrity of the antioxidants found naturally in unprocessed cacao.

Antioxidants help the body’s natural defenses fight the effects of free-radical damage by pairing up with the unpaired electrons causing oxidation in our bodies. This oxidation is linked to many common health issues. Without antioxidants, we’l l just become sicker and weaker.

Commercial chocolate is processed with heat over 100 degrees which negates the beneficial properties of the cacao in addition to having processed sugar, milk, fats, fillers, waxes, and preservatives added to the mix. To gain the most health benefit from chocolate look for products which use unprocessed cacao.

Vegan-, Vegetarian-, and Diabetic-Friendly Chocolate

Are you having a hard time finding a “clean” healthy chocolate? By that I mean no artificial flavors, colors, no preservatives, no fillers? How about a low-glycemic index sweetener? You might want to try Xocai Nuggets. They have a high ORAC (antioxidant value) and they taste great! The nuggets have a flavor more similar to milk chocolate. For those who love the more intense flavor of dark chocolate, try Xocai’s X Power Squares. Stronger chocolate flavor combined with acai berries and blueberries for a super-antioxidant blend.

Omega-3

Are you looking to add more Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet? Xocai Omega Squares combine flaxseed, acai berry, unprocessed cacao, and specially encapsulated plant-based Omega-3. Wait. Plant-based Omega-3 … no fishy taste … AND CHOCOLATE?!? Get healthy and have your chocolate too!

Probiotic? No, XoBiotic

Do you use probiotic supplements for colon health or immunity boosters? You might want to try Xocai’s XoBiotic Squares. Tests have shown chocolate to be a superior delivery system for probiotics over milk. If Xocai XoBiotic is properly stored, the shelf-life of the chocolate and the probiotics used here are about the same. Can you believe it? Eat chocolate, get healthy! Amazing!

Snacking Healthy

Xocai has recently come out with another “first”. A healthy chocolate peanut butter cup peanut butter cup with milk chocolate. Same great healthy chocolate with high antioxidant value plus a bit of “yum” for those “sweet snack” cravings.

On The Go

Whether you work from home or an office, whether you hardly make it to the gym or are an extreme athlete, a handy, healthy chocolate supplement is a super addition to your day. Xocai Activ comes in powered form and makes a super chocolatey drink with the addition of warm (not boiling) purified or bottled water. The added flavor of acai berries, blueberries and Concord grapes makes this a truly one-of-a-kind drink experience. Stored in a cool, dry place, this product can remain for up to one year before “activating”. Take it along to the office or use at home. This is great for the purist, too! No artificial colors or flavors and no preservatives!

Or do you want a quick energy boost to complement your active lifestyle? Grab a can of Xocai’s Xe Healthy Energy Drink, healthy chocolate in a can. Pop the top and away you go. Again using cacao and acai to keep that ORAC value high plus a superfruit blend for a unique flavor experience. Right on the label it states “75% juice. No artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives or refined sugars.”

Weight Loss Support

Is weight loss your goal? Try Xocai High Antioxidant Meal Replacement Shake. Coupled with high antioxidant foods your can be well on your way to losing those unwanted pounds and boosting your energy. Add some exercise and the X Protein Meal Shake for an added boost to your weight loss plan.

Chocolate Connoisseurs

When chocolate first arrived in Europe, it was available only to the nobility and primarily in a liquid form. Today, available to the masses chocolate has become a favorite treat for the masses in its solid form.

Echoing back to its liquid roots come taste chocolate as never before. As espresso is to the coffee connoisseur so shall be Xocai Sipping Xocolate … the ultimate healthy chocolate experience. Good health and superior flavor. For ordering Xocai products or for information on how to become a distributor and begin your own chocolate business.

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