ORAC Value, Antioxidants in Dark Chocolate, Cacao — the Antioxidants Advantage
Can an ounce of dark chocolate a day really keep the doctor away? The answer will put smiles on the faces of chocolate lovers everywhere. According to the book Naked Chocolate by nutrition guru David Wolfe, ancient civilizations discovered that dark chocolate actually does wonders for your health. And now recent research is providing hard scientific evidence to prove it is true! Dark chocolate is power-packed with a rich variety of antioxidants and other important nutrients that prevent premature aging and promote a healthier, happier you. In fact, studies suggest there are so many antioxidants in dark chocolate that the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity – or ORAC – value of chocolate made from a high content of pure cacao is higher than almost any other food known to man! This is important because antioxidants prevent cell damage within the body, which can ultimately decrease the likelihood of developing age-related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and much more.
Xoçai™ products combine all the amazing health benefits of dark chocolate with the healing powers of the Açaà super-berry from the Amazon rain forest to create the ultimate antioxidant feast for your taste buds. Xoçai™ dark chocolates are so healthy that you will never have to feel guilty about indulging on such a tasty treat ever again!
- Oxidation: the Culprit Behind Premature Aging
- Antioxidants to the Rescue!
- ORAC Value — A Test of Antioxidant Strength
Oxidation: the Culprit behind Premature Aging
Oxidation, which causes apples and bananas to turn brown and metals to rust, refers to the cellular process of combining oxygen with an atom, resulting in the loss of electrons. When this happens, the once-healthy atom becomes a highly-reactive free radical molecule. Unstable free radical molecules try to alter the makeup of neighboring healthy cells by stealing their electrons, beginning a chain reaction of cellular damage that eventually causes mutations to DNA and cells.
Because our cells need oxygen to function, oxidation occurs naturally in our bodies every day. No matter how healthy we may be or what kind of environment we live in, our body's 75 trillion cells are constantly in a state of flux due to oxidation. However, data suggests that oxidative stress is dramatically intensified with certain behaviors and environmental factors such as exposure to the sun, pollution, radiation, stress, exercising, drinking, smoking, and much more. These factors produce even more free radicals in the body that result in greater cellular damage, which can ultimately cause or contribute to more than an estimated 200 medical diseases.
The Damaging Effects of Oxidation
Because free radicals are always scavenging for replacement electrons, they are constantly damaging and destroying the cells around them. In fact, each of our body's cells is attacked by free radicals thousands of times in every hour of every day. If those free radicals are not neutralized, a chain reaction of cell damage will continue that can result in improper cell function and even cell death. Oxidative damage appears to be linked to diseases associated with premature aging such as skin damage, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lung disease, autoimmune dysfunction, and other devastating chronic diseases and conditions over time.
Our bodies' natural ability to fight off free radicals diminishes as we get older. Our stress levels, as well as our health and diet habits, can also play a huge role in our ability to prevent and control oxidation. However, antioxidants found in various plant-based foods, especially those in dark chocolate, can neutralize free radicals and slow down the aging process. Antioxidants are nature's ultimate super-protection against aging and disease.
Antioxidants to the Rescue!
What are antioxidants? Simply put, antioxidants are chemicals with extra electrons that work on a cellular level to fight and prevent oxidative damage. Found in fruits, vegetables, and even dark chocolate, antioxidants offer the most effective solution when it comes to slowing down the process of free radical damage. Antioxidants donate electrons to unstable free radicals to render them harmless, thereby stopping the cell damage chain reaction. Because the chain is stopped, nearby cells are protected against further damage, ultimately resulting in the prevention of premature aging and disease.
Foods Power-Packed with Antioxidants
Our bodies obtain the antioxidants it needs through natural foods and vitamin supplements. Many fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, beans, oils, and other products contain antioxidants. Among the fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of antioxidants are blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, cherries, prunes, strawberries, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, red peppers, soybeans, and Açaà berries. Studies also indicate that organic produce may contain higher antioxidant levels than produce that has been sprayed with pesticides. Many other products such as green tea and red wine, as well as dark chocolate such as Xoçai™ products, are packed with antioxidants.
The Dynamic Duo — Antioxidants in Dark Chocolate and Açaà Berries
Raw chocolate is one of nature's most powerful antioxidant-rich foods. According to the latest scientific research, dark chocolate contains extremely high levels of antioxidants. In fact, the amount of antioxidants found in dark chocolate far surpasses the amount in any of the foods previously mentioned!
This is because the cacao beans that dark chocolate comes from have an ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) value of 26,000 units per 100 grams, making the beans one of the richest antioxidant sources in the world. Among the many different kinds of antioxidants in dark chocolate are flavonoids, antioxidants that are among the most potent and beneficial found in food. Flavonoids, which are responsible for giving vibrant colors to fruits and vegetables, provide protection against disease, sun damage, and more. Research suggests that flavonoids also possess anti-viral, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The flavonoid antioxidants found in dark chocolate may even help to fight tooth cavities and oral disease, repair and protect the liver, dilate blood vessels, decrease allergy symptoms, normalize blood-sugar levels, regulate cholesterol, and much more.
Açaà berries are also an excellent source for beneficial antioxidants. The Açaà berry has an ORAC value of 18,500 units per 100 grams, well beyond the USDA recommendation of 3,000-5,000 ORAC units per day. Like dark chocolate, this sweet-tasting berry from the Amazon contains 14 times more antioxidants than spinach, and 10 to 30 times more of the antioxidant anthocyanin than red wine! Anthocyanin has been proven to promote a healthy cardiovascular system as well as fight cancer and diabetes. The Açaà super-berry also contains 10 times more antioxidants than grapes, and seven times more than blueberries!
On their own, both dark chocolate and Açaà berries have more than the USDA-recommended daily amount of antioxidants for good health. But when put together, such as in Xoçai™ products, dark chocolate and Açaà berries deliver a powerhouse of antioxidants to your body for the ultimate health benefits.
ORAC Values — A Test of Strength
The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity Value, or ORAC Value, measures the antioxidant power of a specific food, such as chocolate. The ORAC value is a measure of the food's ability to absorb and neutralize oxygen-free radicals found in the body. According to the USDA, individuals should consume a value between 3,000-5,000 ORAC a day. However, many recent studies show that individuals with active lifestyles should consume higher levels of antioxidants than the recommended daily value.
The Importance of the ORAC Value
The ORAC value is important when it comes to measuring the health benefits of certain foods. The higher the ORAC value, the more antioxidants are contained in the food. The more antioxidants an individual consumes, the more protection he or she has against the damaging effects of free radicals in the body.
ORAC Value and Xoçai™ Chocolate, Made from Pure Cacao
Some foods carry an extremely high ORAC value, such as dark chocolate made from pure cacao and Açaà berries. Whether taken alone or, better yet, together, dark chocolate and Açaà deliver a potent antioxidant power punch that offers protection from dangerous free radicals and lowers the risk of various age-related diseases. With Xoçai™ products, individuals can benefit from the numerous antioxidants found in both dark chocolate and Açaà berries. Plus, Xoçai™ is the only chocolate on the market to print its ORAC Value on the label, allowing consumers to see for themselves what an amazing, antioxidant-rich product it is. Xoçai™ dark chocolate is also packed with other nutrients to deliver even more health benefits than other chocolates out there. Xoçai™ not only fights free radicals, but it also balances cholesterol, contributes to weight loss, cleanses and detoxifies, boosts memory and overall well being, and more. With all these amazing health benefits, it is no wonder why Xoçai™ is considered the world's smartest chocolate!
Experience the Benefits of Antioxidants in Xoçai™ Dark Chocolate
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