THE well-publicised health benefits of dark chocolate have given many chocolate lovers an added reason to indulge in recent years.
Often forgotten, however, is the fact that a bar of dark chocolate still contains high volumes of fat and sugar. So how do you enjoy the health benefits of cocoa without the worry of an expanding waistline? Raw-food expert and nutritionist Jessica Fenton says the answer lies in the unadulterated beans of the cacao pod. This, she says, is a real superfood.
Cacao pods, which grow on trees, are from central and South America. Ancient South American civilisations prized them so much for their medicinal and aphrodisiacal properties, they used them as currency.
'The modern manufacturing process for chocolate bars involves firstly harvesting the pods, which contain seeds known as cocoa beans,' explains Fenton. 'The pods are crushed and the beans and pulp are extracted, fermented, then dried -- either by the sun or in a factory.
'The dried beans are then roasted, in a similar way to coffee beans, to form cocoa, which is mixed with sugar and fats to form chocolate.
'Raw cocoa beans, on the other hand, are fermented and dried but not roasted, which preserves their antioxidant content.' Dietician Dr Sarah Schenker, says: 'The lower levels of antioxidants in dark chocolate result from the effect of high heat during roasting. This process removes micronutrients that often have antioxidant properties and other health benefits.' Studies have shown antioxidants in the diet help protect against everything from heart disease to cancers. Raw cacao powder has nearly four times the antioxidant content of regular dark chocolate, 20 times more than blueberries and 119 times more than bananas. And cacao does more than boost antioxidant levels -- it contains a third more essential nutrients than traditional roasted cocoa.
Cacao contains protein, calcium, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, magnesium and sulphur. It is a source of phenethylamine (PEA), a naturally occurring chemical released by our brains when we are in love. PEA is also beneficial for depression.
Raw chocolate can be bought in powder or nibs, which you can buy from health food shops nationwide. n Jessica's Raw Chocolate Recipes, by Jessica Fenton, is out now priced [euro]12.99
