Scientists invent chocolate so healthy ‘it could be eaten as medicine’

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Scientists at an American chocolate company specialising in herbal technologies claim to have developed the “medicinal” chocolate, which contains only 35 per cent fat.

Cacao, the key ingredient in chocolate, contains a variety of antioxidants and minerals, which perform health benefits such as protecting the nervous system, reducing stroke risk and lowering blood pressure.

However, cacao is extremely bitter meaning many chocolate companies sweeten their products with fat and sugar, overriding cacao’s health benefits.

Kuka Xoco, the Boston-based firm, has discovered a new de-bittering agent in the form of a little-used herb from the Andean region of Bolivia and Peru.

Using micrograms of the plant extract can completely de-bitter large amounts of unsweetened cacao, the company has claimed, developing a prototype with only 35 per cent sugar and fat.

Speaking at the World Chocolate Forum in London this week, Gregory Aharonian, president and chief scientist at Kuka Xoco, said: “This eliminates the need for sugar, sweeteners and much of the fat in chocolate, unleashing the medical benefits of cacao,” the Daily Mail reports.

The company’s long-term goal, he added, is to develop chocolate with just 10 per cent of fat and sugar.

If the unhealthy ingredients are removed from chocolate, it could be eaten medicinally, Mr Aharonian said.

The firm argues sugar is the “next nicotine”. Artificial sweeteners, they add, have been disastrous because they lead to weight gain and other problematic health complications.

Mr Aharonian also suggested the chocolate industry could double its annual profits if it also became a health food industry by removing as much fat and sugar from its products as possible.

 

 

1 COMMENT

  1. Well, the idea discussed above is definitely agreeable, because of the facts explained. Chocolate could be used in multiple forms and flavors and as of today it can also be used for the health purpose, to be very honest, before today i was not aware of such advantages of chocolate, i am bit shocked as well by reading all these things about chocolate and its usage. No matter what we take or eat every thing has something that could bring us health or damage as well. The way we live our life it depends a lot that what we eat as well, our routine intakes effects us very closely and this is a 100% true fact. I am use to take such things in my notice and most of the time it came true that these facts has a severe impact on our daily routine life, no matter we do and no matter we have done, all thing came back with the span of time and all these things should be considered positively as well. Because our health is the most precious thing that we have and there is no alternate for health. It should be taken care very well and in a good way. For all that matters a website that i will recommend according to the region and language as well is desiherbal a very precise information hub only deals in health care.

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