My Chocolate Fantasy

Abstaining from chocolate is surely not an easy feat. The joy of chocolate is just too hard to resist even when it is loaded with sugar that obviously takes a toll on our health. Luckily, recent studies have shown that chocolate has tons of health benefits, particularly dark chocolate because it contains higher levels of cocoa and thus contain more antioxidants that’s even higher than black tea and red wine. Still, sugar levels in milk chocolate and white chocolate is enough to give the diabetic a heart attack. Even chocolates that are marketed as sugarless or sugar-free still contain maltitol, which is almost as bad as sugar. Is it possible to consume chocolate in its pure yummy goodness without consuming the carbohydrates and alarmingly high sugar? With a little ingenuity, it’s possible!The Nutritious Content of Chocolate
Unsweetened chocolate contains about 8 grams of carbohydrate and around 145 calories, more than half of it is fiber, which is very good for the stomach and for aiding digestion. Chocolate, particularly unsweetened chocolate, also contains lots of minerals. One ounce of unsweetened chocolate contains about a quarter of the magnesium and iron, and about half of the manganese and copper that our body needs in a day. The fat contained in chocolate, when it is made of pure cocoa butter (and not animal fat or vegetable fat), is healthy fat-either stearic acid or monounsaturated fat, both considered to be “good saturated fat.” Three table spoons, or about 36 calories of unsweetened cocoa powder, has the same amount of fiber and carbohydrates as unsweetened chocolate but has lower levels of vitamins and minerals,. However, it also has much less fat content.Appreciating Unsweetened Chocolate
The Maya and Aztecs, the earliest civilizations known to have consumed chocolate, used to drink unsweetened chocolate spiked up with some chile and spices. It was considered a drink for the royal family and was adopted by the Spanish courts. Unsweetened chocolate also makes a wonderful ingredient for unusual but interesting dishes such as Cincinnati Chili and Mexican mole sauces. It adds a fuller and richer flavor to dishes that blends well with sauces without being too distinct, plus it adds a wonderful aroma. When it comes to desserts and sweets, it’s harder to go totally unsweetened. Unsweetened cocoa has a really bitter taste that may be too string for most people’s palate. Artificial sweeteners are available, such as maltitol and other sugar alcohols. However, maltitol is about the same as regular sugar when it comes to its blood sugar impact, so using it as a sugar substitute may be defeating the point. While we want to find a healthy alternative to sweetening chocolate, we don’t want to sacrifice depth of flavor and mouthfeel. Sugar alcohols can provide the same characteristics as regular sugar to chocolates. It counteracts the bitterness of chocolate wonderfully better than artificial sweeteners. Sugar alcohols are not all alike though. When buying sugar-free milk chocolates, use sugar alcohols that have the least impact on blood sugar such as erythritol. A healthy, but still yummy alternative is diabetic chocolate.

Paris salons are offering chocolate facials, wraps, and scrubs to people who want healthy-looking and wrinkle-free skin.

The services aim to dispel once and for all the age-old myth that chocolate causes acne and other skin problems.

The chocolate-based beauty treatments have been lauded by chocolate gourmets and chocoholics alike who welcome the quick cocoa fix designed to satisfy the senses.

The trendy 32 Montorgueil Spa in Paris uses Nuxe’s Phytochoc range of beauty products that is a hit among middle-aged women who want to reduce their wrinkles. Its chocolate facial costs about $155 and lasts for an hour and a half.

“At 32 Montorgueil cocoa extracts are used for their cosmetic benefits rather than to impart a chocolate high, as the Phytochoc range bears little resemblance to the best Belgian bar,” said the Agence France-Presse.

The Four Seasons Hotel George V Spa offers a “Decadent Chocolate Package” which lasts two and a half hours and costs $390. For that amount you get the “Chocolate and Cranberry Body Scrub” that uses sweet almond oil, chocolate extract, and crushed cocoa beans to exfoliate the skin. Or you can have the “Toffee Chocolate Wrap” where you can soak for 45 minutes in a warm concoction of cocoa butter, shea butter, and chocolate essence.

For the “Deep Chocolate Massage”, chocolate-scented vitamin E enriched oil is used to knead away any wrinkles. The session ends with a plate of hand-made chocolates and a pot of caramel tea.

At the Bernard Cassiere Spa, $58 gets you a 45-minute “Anti-Stress Anti-Pollution Chocolate Treatment.” It starts with a facial massage of pure cocoa butter and leaves you in a state of chocolate bliss as thick melted chocolate is applied on the face and neck. The chocolate mask is made by Italian chocolatier Walter Bovetti and can be licked.

Contrary to popular belief, chocolate doesn’t cause acne. When consumed as part of a balanced diet, this sweet treat has many health benefits. Cocoa or dark chocolate is a rich source of flavonoids and antioxidants that protect the heart. It lowers blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels. The polyphenol compounds in cocoa are also believed to have anti-aging properties.

“Recent scientific studies have suggested chocolate boosts the serotonin in the brain that produces a calming effect and stability. Stress has been identified as a cause of acne. If chocolate stimulates the serotonin and calms the nerves, then chocolate could ironically be found to assist in acne restraint,” according to the Acne Resource Center Online.

As in all things, moderation is the key. Eating large quantities of chocolate is undesirable since it is a rich source of calories that can lead to obesity and a host of diseases. Stick to small but regular amounts of dark chocolate if you want healthy skin. Or better still, use the Rejuvinol AM/PM Botox Alternative Age-Defying System. This powerful anti-aging formula has two components: the Rejuvinol morning moisturizer that nourishes and tones the skin; and the Rejuvox night cream that reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Go to http://www.rejuvinol.com for details.

Xocai attracted my attention as I am a self confesssed chocoholic! Xocai is more formally known as MXI Corp, which is a mlm business. The main product line of Xocai centers around various derivitives of unprocessed, dark cocoa powder. Yummy cookies, brownies, and a beverage they call “Activ”are among the product types. I tasted “Activ”, and I must say it is one of the tastier items that I have sampled from an mlm company. This article will give insights regarding the viability of Xocai (MXI Corporation)as a legitimate mlm business.

The business model or strategy employed by Xocai,(pronounced “show-sy cai”)is quite sound. America’s immense consumption of chocolate speaks for itself, and when you can prove that it is a healthy “vice”,it makes for a very marketable product. In mlm, healthy and good tasting are a powerful combination!

Xocai is healthy indeed! Blueberries have long been considered the “king” of anti-oxidents, Xocai claims to have 10X more! Actually it is the unprocessed, dark cocoa powder that is packed with the anti-oxidents. Anti-oxidents are free radical “scavengers”, and an abundance of them will dramatically bolster a human being’s immune system. A strong immune system makes us less prone to a variety of diseases. The health benefits of Xocai are unquestioned. Mlm has seldom seen a healthier product line!

Getting involved with Xocai, one must really love chocolate. The company suggests that individuals consume Xocai products 3X daily! Obviously, a sweet tooth is a “must have” part of this mlm opportunity. The company also suggests that the products be distributed as free samples. This allows chocolate lovers to “jump on board”, and become enthusiastic about Xocai’s tasty product line.

Xocai’s compensation plan is somewhat confusing and hard to understand. Like many mlm companies, the compensation plan is a double binary. MXI corp. claims that the compensation plan pays out up to 50% on a distibutor’s total volume. I am not sure if that is realistic.

In conclusion, my concerns about Xocai revolve around the company’s suggestions about marketing the products and the mlm business opportunity. They instruct distributors to use somewhat antiquated mlm marketing techniques. These techniques include approaching “warm” markets, such as friends and family. The company also suggests handing out samples to everybody is sight! These kinds od old-fashioned mlm business building can be frustrating and often are the cause of rapid attrition. To be successful with Xocai, or any other mlm business, one must be skilled and knowledgeable in a variety of marketing techniques.

Chocolate has been around for over three thousand years and has been loved by all, no matter what country, religion or nationality you may be of. It is so versatile it can be used in cooking spicy foods, desserts or even in skincare and perfumes. The aroma of chocolate itself seems to evoke a sense of well-being. Recently, it has been in the news for its amazing health benefits, which range from weight loss, improving breathing difficulties, curing skin problems, preventing bad cholesterol from forming on blood vessel walls to improving memory and dementia. Dark chocolate is better for you because of the high percentage of cocoa solids which means there is less sugar. Some say the flavor is also better. Dark chocolate also contains a really great antioxidant which is said to fight off things such as high blood pressure, S.A.D, and even heart disease!
A study at Pennsylvania State University, compared low-flavonoid and high-chocolate diets and found that people who ate lots of chocolate had higher antioxidant levels in their blood and less of the bad LDL-cholesterol. All this makes sense because pure cocoa is an extremely rich and natural source of very potent nutrients that prevent and neutralize many diseases.
It is loaded with flavonoid antioxidants which assist the above-mentioned health benefits. There are several companies which provide a variety of healthy chocolate products from drinks to delicious cookies. I will offer a few of my favorite ones. Health by chocolate formulated by Dr. Phillip Cohen has a delicious bar for Women who crave chocolate during PMS and menopause, which contains chaste tree berry, soy, rose oil and flax. They offer 3 different bars and even a chocolate drink. Another is Dolphin natural chocolates which is non-dairy and available in eight flavors. You can also find fruit dipped in their dark chocolate such as papaya, apricots or pineapple.
Probably one of the most widely available is Xocai healthy and gourmet chocolates available in many delicious products. You will find that these products all taste better than most. Probably the best way to try it is to check out the variety pack which offers you the drink, protein bars, Chocolate nuggets and the omega bars. The omega squares are packed with essential fatty acids, which gives you an excellent source of Omega-3.
Their products are said to contain more antioxidants than any healthy chocolate available. So go ahead and give in to your cravings. Just make sure you remember there is chocolate out there to benefit your health and then there are just chocolates.

A little bit of sinful indulgence in some hearty dark chocolates can work wonders for a throbbing heart. In fact, they are the perfect healthy treats which give holistic results. Ever since health and fitness have become the mantra for many people, some have shunned chocolates. There is no need as chocolate hearts are the perfect stress busters. Unless you are on an absolutely low calorie diet, chocolates can pep up the dark mood. Chocolates containing high content of cocoa beans are healthy. The flavonoids in it help in blood thinning. Milk chocolates have sugar and milk making them high in calories. But dark chocolates do not need sugar. Hence they are ideal as an occasional treat. It improves insulin immunity too. Premium versions of dark chocolate are heavenly in taste. Buy them as gifts or for self consumption. Either way there is a huge variety in the market. They work well for many occasions all year round.Chocolate can be molded into many shapes and sizes. Chocolate hearts are appealing, giving a literal meaning to ‘eat your heart out’! Chocolates hearts work like magic when presented at special events. Rich in taste and beautifully packed, they are perfect gourmet gifts for chocolate connoisseurs. Some of the most common menus offer a delectable assortment.* white chocolate,* milk chocolate,* dark chocolate, * hazelnut,* rum & raisin,* mint,* cookies & cream,* cinnamon,* Irish cream,* mocha coffee,Chocolate hearts are useful for special events and make them memorable. Mini hearts for kiddie birthdays so that they do not overeat and house warming parties are ideal, big ones for Valentine’s Day with personalized messages like “Love You” or “Marry Me”. The mouth-watering hearts are attractively wrapped in many metallic and matt foils. Pink is perfect to present the world’s best mom and new born baby girls. Similarly blue has choco hearts wrapped for a a baby boy. White chocolate hearts are just right for weddings or Mother’s day whereas cookies and cream hearts are wonderful for birthday parties. Hazelnut or rum & raisin hearts are popular with nut lovers and best for anniversaries. Cinnamon hearts are spicy sweet, just like different flavours of love. Chocolate heart dragees are luxury heart shaped milk chocolate pieces covered in a thin crisp sugar coated shell- very popular with kids! So, what kind of a chocolate heart are you?

There are times in life during which it seems that all of the planets are aligned perfectly which allows for positive circumstances to flow in our direction. Examples of this might be having good fortune in business, falling in love, or just a feeling of goodwill surrounding us. There has occurred in recent weeks the birth of a phenomenon that may be included with these types of advantageous events. It’s a new healthy chocolate that shifts moods, lifts energy and curbs appetites.

Traditionally the words “healthy chocolate” seemed to be an oxymoron. There was then the proof that dark chocolate had an antioxidant power. There now exists a new product that can put you in a good mood, give you more energy, help satisfy your cravings, provide a very powerful combination of amino acids, vitamins and minerals great for your brain health and perhaps may be the best tasting chocolate you have ever had.

This healthy chocolate, which can also be considered a “happy chocolate” was developed by Dr. Paul Anderson who has a history of helping people with non-drug and nutritional remedies for chronic pain and depression. He does not consider his product to be chocolate like the traditional dark chocolate in stores but rather “what this is is a dietary supplement. We’ve put amino acids and vitamins and minerals but we happen to put them into a chocolate and the reason we put them into a chocolate is chocolate potentiates or makes the nutrients work better.” In effect it’s about “turning on that brain, elevating that mood.”

Another advantage that this new healthy chocolate has over the typical fat and sugar packed variety is that each piece has only 40 calories and contains little sugar. Also, the energy received from this new nutritional wonder is not the frantic kind as received from standard chocolate that lasts for a very limited time and leads to a crash into a sense of listlessness. The new variety can keep the mood elevated from 4 to 6 hours after each enjoyable consumption and its effect fades away gradually.

In addition, there will be no craving to binge once your brain’s need for healthy brain chemicals or neurotransmitters has been satisfied. That means that only between 2 and 4 of these healthy chocolates will be necessary to keep the brain’s feel good system going during the day. Weakness for junk food sweets should become a thing of the past when the brain is not starving for the nutrients that it needs!

Want to hear these words of advice and more from Dr. Anderson? Simply click on (or cut and paste) http://www.isadelight.com/video6.html and press “Click to Play”. Hear about the revolution that will make you healthy and happy.

Go to http://victory4u.isagenix.com/us/en/nutrition_isadelight.dhtml to order today!

Who says you can’t have chocolate and stay healthy?  Those who eat dark chocolate can lower their blood pressure and fight off heart disease.  It fights free radicals, too.  Unlike other types of chocolate, dark chocolate is packed full of antioxidants, the molecules that eliminate free radicals that lead to all types of diseases.  It has eight times the amount of antioxidants than strawberries, making it a superfood for its disease fighting qualities.  But hold the milk; studies show that milk interferes with the absorption of antioxidants.

Dark chocolate contains flavanoids called procyanidins and epicatechins; these are specific kinds of antioxidants known as polyphenols that are found in red wine, tea, and many fruits and vegetables.  It also increases the blood flow in the arteries and helps reduce the risk of blood clots.  If you have mildly high blood pressure, dark chocolate may help reduce it.  The serotonin found in it can boost your mood and increase feelings of pleasure, also triggering a rise in endorphins.  Nutritionally speaking, calcium, magnesium and potassium are another benefit of consuming dark chocolate on a regular basis.

While dark chocolate does contain fat, the type of fat present plays a large role in its health benefits.  Oleic acid, which is also found in olive oil, is the fat that helps reduce bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol.  Stearic acid is also a fat, but it is said to have a neutral effect on cholesterol, not affecting it at all.  The only type of fat to watch out for is palmiric acid, which can increase the risk for heart disease.  This only makes up one third of the fat content in dark chocolate.

This doesn’t mean that you can eat as much chocolate as you wish.  Dark chocolate is still high in calories and fat, no matter how beneficial the fat may be.  If you are looking for quick weight loss, you might want to keep this out of your diet.  If you do choose to eat it, the dark chocolate will replace something else in your diet and you will need to cut those calories out.  If cravings or hunger are a problem, you might want to add a natural appetite suppressant like hoodia.  This will keep you feeling full so you don’t overeat.

Planning dark chocolate into your every day diet could help prevent heart diseases, according to a study realized by a team of Swiss researchers. The Swiss researchers say that the antioxidants from dark chocolate could prevent arterial plaque, making it less likely to travel and cause a stroke or heart attack. Additionally, procyanidins can trigger the production of nitric oxide, which helps keep arteries flexible and increases blood flow to the heart.

The research team came to this conclusion after testing on a group of 20 volunteers, which were smokers without health problems. The subjects were asked not to eat any types of aliments rich in antioxidants such as apples, onion and cabbage and after that were given 40 grams of different types of chocolate.

Two hours after consuming the chocolate, the echo-graph showed that dark chocolate, with at least 74% cocoa, significantly improved the blood flow. Additionally, ulterior tests showed that the risk of encountering blood accidents and blockages has been decreased to half of the initial risk. However, white chocolate did not achieve similar effects. The researches that performed the study say that dark chocolate contains a greater quantity of antioxidants to a gram than any other products known for their high content of antioxidants like red vine, green tea or blueberries.

Cocoa is rich in antioxidant flavonoids called flavonols, which include procyanidins, epicatechins, and catechins, explains Harold Schmitz, PhD. Studies have shown that people with high blood levels of flavonoids have lower risk of heart disease, lung cancer, prostate cancer, asthma, and type 2 diabetes. Studies show, that people who ate a diet rich in cocoa powder and dark chocolate had lower oxidation levels of bad LDL cholesterol, higher blood antioxidant levels, and higher levels of good HDL cholesterol.

Chocolate is indeed an aliment that has varied antioxidant elements in it. And eating just a few squares a day reduces your risk of hardening of arteries / or blockage. But we shouldn’t ignore that dark chocolate also contains fats and glucoses in huge quantities causing weight gain if excessively consumed.

The best thing to do is to adjust your chocolate portion to your actual weight and activity level, age and metabolism. If you are physically active throughout the day you probably can consume reasonable amounts of dark chocolate without ever fearing weight gain. Ask your doctor for advise if you have health problems or if you are not sure.

Recipe: Soothing Hot Chocolate
Fill a mug with 1 cup of 1% milk and microwave on medium until hot. Carefully remove, and then add two small squares of dark chocolate. Stir gently until the chocolate melts. Enjoy..

Did you ever hear the likes, a “chocolate diet?” Brace yourself because you hear right. Chocolate acts as a vitamin replacement; if this is true then healthy benefits derived from this particular diet may not be so bad after all

The chocolate diet is just one of many fad diets which include you eating favorite foods. While consuming your specified amount of yummy allowance keep in mind it is supposed to control high blood pressure and prevent heart disease. Although encouraging reasons for using the diet, what of rotting teeth and the people who bang weight on if they as much look at a bar of chocolate.

The diet mainly consists of fluids. Powder or supplements are given to the dieter to mix with milk or water. Is this not cocoa as we all know it?

Chocolate contains anti-oxidants that help prevent arteries clogging. Does this not leave the dieter in a catch 22 situation after being advised to avoid sugary foods because of fattening issues? Weighing up the good and bad is it not healthier to carry a little excess weight to avoid pores clogging or having a heart attack. Chocolate prevents heart disease and obesity increases the risk of heart disease. Is obesity not the same as fat? I am confused.

Chocolate powder shakes are not for replacing or substituting meals, but designed as healthy snacks to stop a rumbling belly. Is this diet so bad when the sugar supply gives us that much needed energy boost?

The question is does the chocolate diet work.. It’s not clear that chocolate stimulates metabolism or helps the fat burning process. Beyond that, too much of anything can be bad. While chocolate does have health benefits, a diet with an emphasis in chocolate may not be the best way to lose weight. To shed pounds stick with a sensible eating plan.

Diet – Throughout the day you can munch two 40 gram bars of chocolate and drink sugar-free coffee with non-fat milk. Make eating exciting and appetizing, mix chocolate chips with strawberries in a glass bowl. Glass allows visibility of the delicious filling which guarantees lip licking. Slice a couple of bananas and drizzle melted dark chocolate over them. You have to take the chocolate diet for 5-7 days and no longer. After one course take a break for 3-4 days. The chocolate diet is a decreased calorie diet that centers on drinking liquid diet shakes to fill the gap. People use it as a replacement for food and if you consume less food this clearly indicate fewer calories.

I am not sure I agree this can be called a sensible diet when evidence proves different i.e. pounds piling on instead of dropping off and decaying teeth. Before dieting speak to your doctor or dietician

The sensible thing to do is ignore fad diets and embark on the sensible by following a sensible eating plan. Choose the wrong diet can be dangerous – seek expert advice. The best way to evaluate a diet is by the promises made. Overnight weight loss or miracle cures are promotional pledges you should snub.

Crash dieting is unhealthy. Weight loss is for more than just losing pounds. Exercise for skin and muscle tone is just as important. Exercise is necessary but it won’t replace a diet. A combination of both is ideally the key source to losing weight. Give yourself time to adjust and not to lose focus when you begin your first diet.

Consider a low-key diet that aims at healthy foods:

1 Choose an apple over a chocolate bar.

2 Cut out cordials and drink water.

3 Walk rather than use the car or bus.

4 Limit portion sizes of what you eat. It is easier than counting calories and carbohydrates.

5 Use a smaller plate to serve dinner on.

6 Replace sticky puddings for pieces of fruit

To lose weight, fewer calories have to be burned off than what you take in. Skipping meals and eating fewer calories can cause severe consequences; it can lead to binge scoffing later because of low energy and blood sugar levels. A sensible and healthy eating plan will include between 1200 and 1400 calories daily for women and 1500 to 1800 calories for men. Breakfast being the most important meal of the day is one you must not skip. Eat 4 to 5 times a day but in moderation.

Chicken breast is a good source of protein also low in fat. Two recipes below cooked in 15-30 minutes, low in fat, and under 400 calories a serving

Chicken & Vegetable Kebabs

4 Blocks of egg noodles

2 Skinless chicken breasts

1 Jar/195g yellow bean sauce

3 Button mushrooms

1 Medium courgette

½ yellow & red pepper

1 tbsp olive oil

4 spring onions

1 red chilli

Wooden skewers

Method

1. Fill large pot with water – bring to the boil, add noodles, return to the boil and simmer for 4 minutes.

2. Dice chicken breasts and place in a bowl. Add ¾ jar of yellow bean sauce and stir coating the chicken.

3. Preheat grill.

4. Prepare mushrooms into quarters; slice courgette; deseed. Slice peppers into squares. Size is up to you.

5. Skewer a mushroom quarter followed by chicken, courgette, pepper and so on.

6. Place kebabs on the grill and cook for 10-15 minutes turning frequently.

7. Heat some oil to smoking point in a wok, add spring onions chilli and stir fry for 60 seconds. Add noodles and remaining sauce – stir to coat. Heat through.

8. Serve kebabs over noodles.

Chicken Pancakes

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

3 Skinless chicken breasts

Jar hoi sin spring onion stir fry sauce

Spring onions, sliced lengthways

1 Cucumber

8 Chinese pancakes

Method

1. Slice spring onions lengthways into 3″strips. Cube cucumber and slice into thin batons.

2. Thinly cut chicken into strips.

3. Heat oil in wok till piping hot, add chicken and stir fry for 7- 8 minutes

4. Preheat Chinese pancakes as instructed on packet.

5. Add stir fry sauce to cooked chicken – coat and heat through.

6. Serve chicken spring onions and cucumber onto pancake – roll and serve

Enjoy stay slim and healthy

 

When we think chocolate, we think of mindless indulgence and guilty pleasures, not health benefits. Indeed, it is more like the antithesis of health and nutrition in our minds as we have learned since we were little kids-that eating copious amounts of chocolates can have dire consequences and therefore forbidden to some extent (you can’t eat it before a meal as well as during nighttime). But thanks to new scientific findings, it turns out that chocolates have health benefits too, particularly dark chocolate.Lowers Your Blood Pressure
According to a scientific report published in the Aug 27, 2003 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, dark chocolate (but not white or milk chocolate) helps lower blood pressure. Dr. Dirk Taubert from the University of Cologne, Germany, together with his colleagues, conducted a study among seven women and six men between the ages of 55 to 64 who were diagnosed with mild high blood pressure ranging from 84 as the lowest (diastolic blood pressure) to 153 as the highest (systolic blood pressure). Each patient was instructed to eat one 100-gram candy bar (containing 480 calories) every day for a period of two weeks. Half of them had to eat dark chocolate while the other half had to eat white chocolate. They were also instructed to avoid eating foods that had similar calories and nutrients to offset the 480 calories contained in the 100-gram candy bar. By the end of the second week, those who were given dark chocolate saw their blood pressure drop significantly- an average of 2 points for those with diastolic blood pressure, and 5 points for those with systolic blood pressure. While those who were given white chocolate did not see a drop in their blood pressure. Still, don’t make this an excuse to binge on chocolates. Moderation is still the healthiest way to go.A Significant Source of Antioxidants
In another study published in Nature’s Aug 2003 issue, dark (but not white or milk) chocolate was found to contain potent antioxidants, which helps fight free radicals and other destructive molecules that cause various ailments from heart disease to cancer. Dr. Mauro Serafini of the National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome, Italy, together with his team, conducted a study on seven women and five men, aged 25 to 35, who were all in perfect health. Each were instructed to eat 100 grams of dark chocolate for a day, 100 grams of dark chocolate together with a glass of milk on another day, and 200 grams of milk chocolate on yet another day. After an hour of eating the chocolate, it was found that dark chocolate, when eaten alone, increased the total antioxidants in the blood, particularly the levels of epicatechin which is a healthy compound found in cocoa. Milk chocolate was found to have the lowest level of epicatechin. Milk was found to interfere with the absorption of antioxidants and therefore when eating dark chocolates, better to enjoy it as is, which is the best way anyhow.