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Home
:: About Our Chocolates
Dark Chocolate.
We used to sell more milk chocolate than dark chocolate, but all that's changed. We're glad to see more people appreciating the qualities of fine dark chocolate. There are many. With over 300 natural chemicals in cocoa beans, not all the health benefits of chocolate are yet known. Here is what we do know:
High in Flavonoids
Dark chocolate contains much more cocoa than milk chocolate (while white chocolate doesn't contain any at all). And dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, which are antioxidants that keep cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels, reduce the risk of blood clots, and slow down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries. Dark chocolate contains more flavonoids than any other food — including green tea, black tea, red wine, and blueberries. And note that milk binds to antioxidants, inhibiting their absorption. So don't drink milk while enjoying your dark chocolate.
Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Chocolate contains essential trace elements and nutrients such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as the vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E. Dark chocolate is the highest natural source of magnesium, which protects against hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.
Good for Cholesterol Levels
Studies suggest that dark chocolate may have a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels — it won't raise bad cholesterol (LDL), and because cocoa butter contains oleic (a mono-unsaturated fat) it may even raise good cholesterol (HDL) levels.
Chocolate as a Mood Enhancer
While not the aphrodisiac it was once believed to be, chocolate does contain phenylethylamine (PEA), a mild mood elevator. Our brains naturally produce PEA when we feel joy or love. Chocolate also boosts serotonin — our brain's antidepressant — as well as endorphin levels. Endorphins naturally flood the brain during physical exertion, creating "runners high."
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