Chocolate Unwrapped: The Surprising Health Benefits of America's Favorite Passion - Softcover

Jacobsen, Rowan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1931229317 ISBN 13: 9781931229319

Publisher: Invisible Cities Press LLC, 2003

Synopsis

Detailing the positive physical and psychological effects of chocolate, this book explores its colorful history, botany, and chemistry. Explaining the science behind chocolate, common myths about chocolate—that it causes acne, allergies, migraines, and hyperactivity—are dispelled, and its benefits—tannins in chocolate actually help prevent cavities—are revealed. Providing medical information relating to chocolate's high antioxidant levels and beneficial effects in terms of heart disease, cancer, aging, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease, the book also includes information regarding chocolate's mental health benefits. The included recipes provide a multitude of healthy ways to eat chocolate, from flourless chocolate cake to Mexican mole, and a comprehensive list of resources shows chocolate lovers where to find the best-quality chocolates around the world.

About this title

From the Author

* Chocolate has the highest concentration of antioxidants of any food on the planet—10 times that of spinach!
* Chocolate is a good source of polyphenols, the same type of antioxidants found in red wine
* Flavonoids in dark chocolate are good for your heart—they reduce the stickiness of platelets, and aid in clotting and preventing coronary artery blockages
* Even the fat in chocolate is "good fat"—it is stearic acid, which doesn’t affect cholesterol levels
Explores the science behind the health benefits of chocolate and dispels the myths and misconceptions surrounding it, with bonus chapters that include lore, history, and a sampling of healthy, delicious recipes from around the world

From the Inside Flap

"I do recommend a piece of good-quality dark chocolate as a healthy snack . . . it is a source of polyphenols, the same type of antioxidants found in red wine, and the fat it contains is stearic acid, which doesn’t affect cholesterol levels. The latest good news for chocolate lovers comes from a study indicating that flavonoids in chocolate are good for your heart. These compounds reduce the stickiness of platelets, cells that play an important role in blood clotting. By eating a 1.5-ounce milk chocolate bar, you get the same amount of these protective compounds as in a 5-ounce glass of Cabernet Sauvignon."
Andrew Weil, M.D.

"Nitric oxide plays such an important role in the maintenance of healthy blood pressure and, in turn, cardiovascular health. If our research results continue to support a link between consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa and nitric oxide synthesis, there could be significant implications for public health."
Norman Hollenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Harvard Medical School

"Chocolate contains large amounts of the same beneficial plant chemicals that now have burnished the reputation of tea. In fact, just one ounce of chocolate has about as much of these plant chemicals as a cup of brewed black tea. One large, ongoing study of the benefits of exercise found that men who eat chocolate in moderation live longer than those who eat none."
University of California-Berkeley Wellness Letter

"We already know that increased consumption of fruits and vegetables results in an increase of antioxidants in our blood. We believe chocolate consumption may have the same effect. We forget that chocolate is derived from cocoa beans—the fruit of the cacao tree—a fruit that is a rich source of these potentially beneficial substances."
Penny Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University

"Chocolate just stands out [for antioxidant content]. It’s much higher than anything else."
Joe Vinson, Ph.D., University of Scranton

"Eating chocolate can have significant influences on mood, generally leading to an increase in pleasant feelings and a reduction in tension."
Peter Rogers, Ph.D., Institute of Food Research

About this edition

• Publisher: Invisible Cities Press LLC
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1931229317
• ISBN 13: 9781931229319
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144