Like most people, when you’re trying to lose weight or feel better about your health, things like chocolate are the first to go. Those feelings of deprivation or I’ll just have an apple, because it’s not chocolate, can consume us. You probably find often that you will eat your chocolate and then crash and feel jittery later – and trust me, it’s not just the feelings of despair having given into that craving.

As it turns out, a lot of chocolate produced can be full of toxins, mycotoxins to be more precise. All chocolate is produced by fermentation, and 80% of South American chocolate sampled recently had mould contamination.3 64% of the microbes that ferment chocolate create mycotoxins. These toxins, even at so-called “safe” levels approved for commodity chocolate, contribute to feelings of weakness, sickness, and lethargy. There is a lot more information in the mycotoxins blog post so I won’t go into it too much, but just letting you know it’s probably not just the sugar content.

Speaking of sugar content, there is also a reason why they say dark chocolate it best for you – the darker the better. Milk and white chocolate are high in sugar, therefore limiting the safe amount you can eat. White and milk chocolate are not Bulletproof, because they have no benefit and are high-risk foods. Consuming milk with chocolate or eating milk chocolate reduces the flavonoid absorption from the chocolate powder. This largely negates any benefit that you might get from eating dark chocolate.

For regular chocolate, the health benefits don’t outweigh the risks. However eating a high quality source of dark chocolate has tons of benefits. People who eat high quality chocolate have lower markers of inflammation than those who eat regular chocolate. Studies indicate people who consume the highest amounts of dark chocolate are at least 53% more likely to experience enhanced cardiovascular health.

Chocolate – a potent antioxidant superfood and providing better heart health

Inflammation is known to negatively affect our health in many aspects. Cacao, cocoa and/or chocolate is packed with antioxidants and compounds that help reduce inflammation.

Cocoa actually has a greater antioxidant capacity than black tea, green tea, and red wine. Cocoa also has more antioxidants than “super-fruits” like acai, pomegranate, and blueberry. When you eat dark chocolate, there is an immediate boost in your blood antioxidant levels. People who eat high quality chocolate are more likely to have less inflammation than those who eat regular chocolate. People who consume the highest amounts of dark chocolate are far more likely to experience better cardiovascular health.

Your heart is one of the organs most affected by inflammation, and dark chocolate is just as good for heart health as it is for Valentine’s Day. Studies show that eating dark chocolate can directly improve heart and vascular function. Dark chocolate can even help protect against some of the negative effects of smoking.

Consuming Upgraded™ Cacao Butter and other foods with high antioxidant content and low mycotoxin content can help boost the body’s ability to keep blood flowing healthfully so you can be and do more.

Cocoa Fibre – the right kind of fibre

Fibre is overrated, but your gut bacteria need to eat something. Fibre from wheat and other grains can hurt your gut, but the right kind of fibre can be good for your gut bacteria.

High quality dark chocolate and cocoa has the kind of fibre that heals your gut. Rats that consume cocoa fibre have a reduction in blood pressure and achieve a healthier weight than rats not fed cocoa fibre. Consuming cocoa fibre improves bowel movements in people too. The soluble fibre feeds the good bacteria in your gut, which makes your entire body work better. Studies indicate people who consume the highest amounts of dark chocolate are at least 53% more likely to experience enhanced cardiovascular health.