Cell Protection, Circulatory Enhancement…and…a Healthy Aphrodisiac Too!!!!

For years, it has been well-recognized that not only does dark chocolate act on the body as a powerful anti-oxidant with the capabilities of protecting our cells and cellular membranes from free radical attack, but it is also believed to have true aphrodisiac powers…which presently in the world of laboratory-derived sexual enhancers and stimulants, many of which are not only controversial, but also have many innate dangers and/or adverse side-effects…is quite a boon!!!! The one thing that we know for sure about dark chocolate is that it contains high levels of powerful antioxidants called flavanols. Flavanols protect our bodies from free radical attack by acting like “shields” that fend them off by “absorbing the hit“… so to speak. Our bodies are constantly producing these free radicals due to a continuous cellular attack by both internally-produced biochemical reactions and their by-products, as well as by the many external/environmental chemicals, toxins, poisons, etc., that reap havoc upon our organs, tissues, cells, and cellular membranous structures. As we age, we are exposed to more and more of these continuous attacks by these unstable radicals, and thus, as time goes by, our immune systems have a harder time trying to fend them off. http://kyleleonreviewscam.snappages.com/blog/2013/12/15/how-to-lose-weight-star-mom

These free-radicals are unstable molecules that try to “stabilize” themselves by attacking and grabbing electron groups from our cells and tissues, thus, damaging them considerably. Although this attack may be quite subtle, the long-term effects are cumulative… and eventually, will, if allowed to do so, break our bodily systems down. Have you ever looked at the wrinkled, puckered skin tissue surrounding the mouth of a 20-year chain smoker, or the overly shriveled skin of many [even not so old] folks who have spent far too many hours “baking” in the sun? The smoke, nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes, and the ultra-violet ray attack over long periods of time, are prime examples of what free-radical attack can do, not only to the appearance of many individuals, but also to their internal physiological function and overall health. This is what is meant when you hear the old adage about how smoking and sitting the sun “ages” one prematurely. The beneficial effects of eating dark chocolate, (although keeping this under control and consuming dark chocolate in moderation, as this is such an “energy-dense” food and high in “good” fat, and, (most importantly), is a great substitute for less healthy desserts or snacks, (i.e., milk chocolate, donuts, cookies, cake, etc…)), reach well beyond just its antioxidant properties; dark chocolate has been shown to have research-backed benefits in the arena of cardiovascular health and circulatory function. http://kyleleonreviewscam.blog.com/2013/12/16/consistently-lost-weight-for-several-diets/

 In a recent study, [Langer, S. and Marshall, L.J., et.al., (2011) "Flavanols and Methylxanthines in Commercially Available Dark Chocolate: A Study of the Correlation with Nonfat Cocoa Solids". J. Agric. Food Chem., 59, 8435], it was shown that when testing twelve (12) commonly consumed brands of dark chocolate, every one of these brands tested contained significantly higher levels of total flavanols, [using the powerful flavanol, epicatechin via HPLC analysis], than either milk chocolate or white chocolate. When included in the diet, epicatechin and other similar derivatives are known to not only reduce the risk of coronary disease, but have also been shown to improve endothelial cellular function and health, alleviate aortic stiffness, and increase the “oxidant status” in healthy volunteers, [Vlactiapoulos, C. and Aznaouridis, K., et. al., (2005) "Effects of Dark Chocolate on Arterial Function in Healthy Individuals". Amer. J. Hypertens., 18, 785].
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