There are reports of many benefits of dark chocolate and cocoa and also the need for awareness as to amounts and quality... such as...
*
Organic chocolate avoids the pesticides that are typically applied to stored cocoa beans which end up in the chocolate/cocoa product
* Consumer Reports mentions that many products are contaminated with high amounts of cadmium — a toxic heavy metal, and some also contain small amounts of lead.
* Look for high cocoa content by percentage so there are more flavonoids - ie, at least 72%
* Be aware that if you are sensitive to caffeine, cocoa and chocolate contain amounts that can be problematic for some.
* Check the added sugar content as that can be high and obviously counterproductive for healthy habits - the serving size is typically quite small compared to what is generally consumed
* There are some brands of chocolate chips and bars that do not add sugar but instead, use Stevia so you have the benefits of the flavonoids without the detrimental effects of sugar.
Enjoy small amounts of organic, dark chocolate but don't overdo.
Jackie
