Where does chocolate come from?

Yes, it does grow on trees. It all begins with the small tropical tree, Theobroma cacao. Theobroma is Greek for "food of the gods".
Cacao is native to Central and South America. Commercially it is grown throughout the tropics with 70% of the world's cacao grown in Africa. From the time the cacao beans are picked it can take weeks before you can have an edible piece of delicious, dark chocolate.

Dark Chocolate Is Healthy Chocolate

"Dark Chocolate Lowers Blood Pressure

Dark chocolate -- not white chocolate -- lowers high blood pressure, say Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Cologne, Germany. Their report appears in the Aug. 27 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association."
"Antioxidants in Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate -- but not milk chocolate or dark chocolate eaten with milk -- is a potent antioxidant, report Mauro Serafini, PhD, of Italy's National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome, and colleagues. Their report appears in the Aug. 28 issue of Nature. Antioxidants gobble up free radicals, destructive molecules that are implicated in heart disease and other ailments.

"Our findings indicate that milk may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate ... and may therefore negate the potential health benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate."

Translation: Say "Dark, please," when ordering at the chocolate counter. Don't even think of washing it down with milk. And if health is your excuse for eating chocolate, remember the word "moderate" as you nibble."

Small, Sweet and Healthful: A Square of Dark Chocolate a Day Offers Benefits

"ROCHESTER, Minn. —Chocolate as health food? Not exactly, but eating a small amount of dark chocolate every day offers some health benefits.

The benefits are thought to come from flavonoids in dark chocolate, according to the August issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. Flavonoids are a naturally occurring antioxidant that also are found in teas, red wine and some fruits and vegetables.

The flavonoids in dark chocolate have been associated with a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. One recent study showed that 6 grams of dark chocolate a day, about one square, lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 2 points each."

WHAT ARE THE 3 TREATS IN TRIPLE TREAT CHOCOLATE?

Why is the new Youngevity Chocolate a TRIPLE Treat?

1st TREAT FAIR TRADR &KOSHER CERTIFIED

Not only does it taste rich, creamy, and oh so yummy it stimulates endorphin production.
This gives us a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction. Boasting a healthy dose of serotonin (a mood lifter) and theobromide (a natural stimulant), cocoa contains healthy fats which do not impact cholesterol levels in healthy adults. Dark chocolate has many beneficial polyphenolic bioflavanoids that have powerful antioxidant properties which can actually help to protect you from damaging oxidative stress†. Harvard researchers recently found that cocoa flavanols (protective substances that are also abundant in dark chocolate) help improve blood flow to the brain, which could slow the mental decline that occurs as you age


2nd TREAT SUPER ANTIOXIDANT BLUEBERRIES

Wild Blueberries are super-rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are warriors against free-radicals, the chemical buzz-bombs that compromise our health on a daily basis. Long touted as being an excellent source of dietary fiber, manganese and Vitamin C. Naturally fat-free, Blueberries have also been found to be beneficial in supporting urinary tract health. Although Blueberries are present in Youngevity® Triple Treat Chocolate, the only taste you will detect will be rich, creamy, chocolaty goodness!,


3rd TREAT PROPRIETARY BLEND

What is a probiotic? Probiotics are micro-organisms which are beneficial to the body by providing microbial balance to the intestine. According to the World Health Organization, by definition, a probiotic must be alive, beneficial and safe. Until now, the most common source of probiotics have been dairy products such as active yogurt cultures. Probiotics are beneficial in supporting regularity, healthy cholesterol levels, healthy blood pressure levels, and optimal immune function†. Because our probiotics are suspended in chocolate, 80% of the healthy bacteria will pass through to the intestine, which is exactly where it needs to be to do its job. That’s a much higher pass-through than you will find with most yogurts! There are over 500 million live healthy bacteria for every 8 grams of chocolate at the time of manufacture. The effective level will be maintained at least to the end of the “best by” date on the package.







ALLERGY INFORMATION: Contains: Soy. This product is manufactured on equipment that may also process milk, peanuts and other tree nuts, coconut, eggs and wheat.

The Sweet Truth About Chocolate and Your Heart Have you had your flavonoids today?

"What are flavonoids?
Flavonoids are naturally-occurring compounds found in plant-based foods that offer certain health benefits. "

"Are all types of chocolate healthy?
Before you grab a chocolate candy bar or slice of chocolate cake, it’s important to understand that not all forms of chocolate contain high levels of flavanols.

Cocoa naturally has a very strong, pungent taste, which comes from the flavanols. When cocoa is processed into your favorite chocolate products, it goes through several steps to reduce this taste. The more chocolate is processed (through things like fermentation, alkalizing, roasting, etc.), the more flavanols are lost. Most commercial chocolates are highly processed. Although it was once believed that dark chocolate contained the highest levels flavanols, recent research indicates that, depending on how the dark chocolate was processed, this may not be true. The good news is that most major chocolate manufacturers are looking for ways to keep the flavanols in their processed chocolates. But for now, your best choices are likely dark chocolate over milk chocolate (especially milk chocolate that is loaded with other fats and sugars), and cocoa powder that has not undergone Dutch processing (cocoa that is treated with an alkali to neutralize its natural acidity)."