Does this info that you passed on about dark chocolate and white chocolate mean that white chocolate is not nearly as healthy as dark chocolate? Does white chocolate contain a reduced amount of flavanols, or none at all?
Walter Sugalskiof TX2:22PM February 27, 2013
No commercial sponsor, but which chocolate brand was used? And how much sodium did it contain if any? Based on my research it's the 70% cocoa in dark chocolate, despite the harmful sugar and fat contents. And it must be natural cocoa powder not processed by dutching with flavanol destroying alkali treatment widely used in most chocolates to remove bitter components including healthy flavanols from cocoa. Check sodium content from residual alkali in dutching: it must be zero mg for good chocolate or natural cocoa. Hence instead of dark chocolate use natural cocoa powder with zero sodium showing it was not chemicallly debittered. Best added to oat meal or cereals, not containing milk which inhibits flavanol absorption. If needed sweeten with stevia or healthy sugar substitutes like xylitol...and enjoy max protection without high calory sugars and fats!
hr, chemist and nutritionist
Herman Rutnerof PA12:27PM June 01, 2012
When processed properly, dark chocolate has more antioxidants than any food known on the planet. So it really doesn't matter what the cocoa content is if the beans are not processed property. Commercial processing destroys most of the fragile antioxidants. The only way you can be sure you are getting the health benefits is to choose a chocolate that has been certified for the amount of antioxidants as well as the amount of flavonoids. Also, choose a chocolate that has no processed sugars (even organic processed sugars!), no bad fats nor caffeine. There is a great article on the difference between "good" chocolate and "bad" chocolate at cocoa101blog.com.
Diana McCallaof CA1:38AM April 25, 2012
I knew there was a reason I loved dark chocolate!!
Dianeof MI7:20PM April 24, 2012
Was a control group which consumed no chocolate included in the study? If not the results are only pertinent to chocaholics.
cobwebof PA7:17PM April 24, 2012
50 grams is almost two ounces, that's a lot of chocolate and for 15 days that's 750 grams or 1.67 lbs of chocolate, at that rate you'd eat more than 40 pounds per year and end up on biggest looser.
mikel Taylorof AZ7:16PM April 24, 2012
Or maybe this just shows that if you want chocolate, you are better off with the relatively low-suger alternative of dark chocolate than you are with the high-suger white chocolate.
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Walter Sugalski of TX 2:22PM February 27, 2013
Herman Rutner of PA 12:27PM June 01, 2012
Diana McCalla of CA 1:38AM April 25, 2012
Diane of MI 7:20PM April 24, 2012
cobweb of PA 7:17PM April 24, 2012
mikel Taylor of AZ 7:16PM April 24, 2012
Michael of NY 7:09PM April 24, 2012