Dark Chocolate

[raythethird]

Mountain Man,

I found your dark chocolate thread on bb.com and got about to page 5 when i found this site. I was just curious how your experimentation with it went, and if it was still incorporated in your diet. I could finish reading that thread to see if you posted again in it, but i thought it might be good if you posted it here, too as I wouldn't have thought it was something so beneficial.

I did a search on this site and didn't find anything so if something is here, just direct me to it.

I really like the concept behind this site and what you stand for, and i will visit it regularly. Also, I appreciate the myspace friends request. That was what enabled me to find this site.

IamRay

[heyzeus909]

Mountain Man,

I found your dark chocolate thread on bb.com and got about to page 5 when i found this site. I was just curious how your experimentation with it went, and if it was still incorporated in your diet. I could finish reading that thread to see if you posted again in it, but i thought it might be good if you posted it here, too as I wouldn't have thought it was something so beneficial.

I did a search on this site and didn't find anything so if something is here, just direct me to it.

I really like the concept behind this site and what you stand for, and i will visit it regularly. Also, I appreciate the myspace friends request. That was what enabled me to find this site.

IamRay

You probably read 2 or 3 more pages than necessary on the bb.com Dark Chocolate thread I started. Lot's of good info on the first couple of pages, not so much after that.

Interesting you'd ask if I still incorporate it into my diet because, just this morning, I had 1.5oz as breakfast so I could measure the blood-sugar effect it had (more on that coming soon, I hope. Zero effect on blood sugar from 88% pure Dark Chocolate). I also had 2 servings of dark chocolate covered almonds later today, too.

It irks me to no end when I read in a magazine, book, or website where the reader is advised to abstain from saturated fat. 'Saturated fat' is a blanket term that refers to different types of saturated fat. Not all saturated fats are created equal. Some are good, and some are bad. There's a specific type of saturated fat in Dark Chocolate called stearic acid that's shown to help boost testosterone levels. That, my friend, is a very good thing. (stearic acid is also prominent in beef - and it should preferably be grass fed beef, as well). Stearic acid has a neutral effect on cholesterol levels, too.

I really have no doubt that the consistent eating of Dark Chocolate makes me vascular. If you're taking an "N.O." preworkout supplement for vascularity, then you can have it - I'll stick with my Dark Chocolate. Dark Chocolate doesn't necessarily need to be taken preworkout for there to be a dilating effect of blood vessels during/post workout. That would imply that the effect is short lived; which I don't think it is.

Anyway, here's a link for you about that:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3756997.stm
"It is likely that the elevated blood levels of epicatechin triggered the release of active substances that vasodilate, or increase, blood flow in the artery. Better blood flow is good for your heart."

^^ If it's good for your heart, then it's probably good for your brain...and your muscles, too.


Dark Chocolate is also chock full of antioxidants.



The more pure your dark chocolate, the better. Look for something that's close to 80 to 90 percent pure (it'll say so on the label). I like 'Endangered Species' brand that's 88 percent pure. 'Dagoba's' 87 percent pure is good as well. Hershey's - even the kind that says 'dark' or 'extra dark' - blows.


Thank you for doing a search on this site before you asked. I'm embarrassed I haven't said something before now, but apparently, I'm waiting for the questions to be asked before I just volunteer the information.


At some point, I'm going to do a more thorough post on this topic, and it will include thoughts about grass fed beef, and whole eggs, as well (complete with references).


Thanks for the good words, brother. I hope you find this site useful.

[raythethird]

appreciate the info

[dwperry]

I was curious about this myself,, thanks MM and Ray for bringing it up.

[czmg22]

MM,

You state the more pure the better. Then what's your opinion of CACAO NIBS, or raw chocolate beans? I wasn't aware of all the good things you mentioned, only that it was good anti-oxidants. I've been eating nibs for a long time. typically I eat 2 tbsp per day. Once in the morning with breakfast or with my 1st snack of the day, and once at night as part of my nightime snack. secondly, in order to get the greatest benefit from them, should I change when I eat the nibs? before workout, etc?? ~Thanks!!

[FitzChivalry]

So you're not talking about just plain "pure" kind but the kind with some sugar also added? And also, I thought that you (Heyzeus) said that you didn't like to combine carbs and fats together or is this so minimal of amount/blood sugar response that it doesn't really matter?

[czmg22]

So you're not talking about just plain "pure" kind but the kind with some sugar also added? And also, I thought that you (Heyzeus) said that you didn't like to combine carbs and fats together or is this so minimal of amount/blood sugar response that it doesn't really matter?

I'm not sure if the first part of your post is directed to me or Heyzeus, but if it is directed to me, these are raw beans no sugar or anything added. just chocolate bean bits. 100% organic raw pounded Criollo chocolate beans. I get them from my local whole foods store, but they can also be purchased over the internet from here: http://www.navitasnaturals.com

Regards,
Phil

[battousai216]

So you're not talking about just plain "pure" kind but the kind with some sugar also added? And also, I thought that you (Heyzeus) said that you didn't like to combine carbs and fats together or is this so minimal of amount/blood sugar response that it doesn't really matter?

there is not a significant amount of carbs in high cocoa dark chocolate. 85% lindt bars nutritional info is as follows:

Fat:18g
saturated fat:11g
carbohydrates:8g
dietary fiber:3g
sugar:5g
protein:4 g

the higher the cocoa percentage the less carbs there are, 99%(if you can stomache it) has less then half that.

[czmg22]

Here's the Nutritional Info for Raw Chocolate Nibs:

Serving size: 1 ounce
Calories 140
Calories from fat 90
Total Fat 10g
Saturated Fat 3g
Sodium 30mg
Total Carbs 12g
Dietary Fiber 8g
Sugars 2g
Protien 1g
Vitamin C, magnesium, zinc,iron, copper, potassium, calcium, and good antioxidant flavanoids.

[raythethird]

I found some of the 85% Lindt and bought it today. Would 40 grams, or 1 serving, be sufficient for a day? Should i spread the 4 squares out over the day, or eat them all at once? Or, am i overthinking? lol

Most of the meat I eat is either baked chicken and tuna, so I'd imagine my diet is short of stearic acid and saturated fats.

I am really curious to see how this affects my vascularity; and, from the link you posted, it sounded like i should be able to notice a difference in two weeks or so.