Antioxidants in cocoa
A fully grown cocoa bean contains more than 200 substances that
promote good health. One group of these beneficial substances are
the cocoa flavanols. Scientific research has shown that these
powerful antioxidants may have a positive effect on both body and
mind.
ACTICOA chocolate contains one of the highest cocoa flavanols
levels in the world.
A minimum portion of 7.6 gr of ACTICOA dark chocolate contains
the minimum
amount of 168 mg flavanols required to claim the antioxidant
effect.
A minimum portion of 21 gr of ACTICOA milk chocolate
provides you with the
minimum amount of 168 mg flavanols required to claim the
antioxidant effect.
A minimum portion of 2.1 gr of ACTICOA cocoa powder is
sufficient to reach the
minimum amount of 168 mg flavanols which are required to claim the
antioxidant
effect.
Scientific references
Scientific references
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Antioxidants in food
Some food sources provide more antioxidants than others. One of
the scientific methods most used to compare the antioxidant
capacity of various foods is called the ORAC
method (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity). This method
measures the ability of foods to neutralize free radicals.
ACTICOA best of class
Food nutritionists suggest that an optimal daily ORAC intake
should reach at least a value between 3000 and 5000 in order to
maintain a good balance between antioxidants and free radical
activity in our body.
Cocoa and in particular ACTICOA chocolate or cocoa powder can help
to maintain this balance more easily when consumed as part of a
varied balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. The chart below shows
that – compared to other foodstuffs – chocolate and cocoa powder
have a very strong antioxidant action, with ACTICOA chocolate and
cocoa powder positioned at the top end of this ranking list.
The effects of ACTICOA
How can the excellent antioxidant action of cocoa, as found
under laboratory conditions, be translated into a meaningful
antioxidant effect in humans? Firstly
bioavailability of these beneficial compounds is
crucial. Although ACTICOA chocolate or cocoa powder is highly
concentrated in cocoa flavanols, this would be meaningless unless
the flavanols are still active in the human body. Studies
have demonstrated that the cocoa flavanols in ACTICOA
chocolate and cocoa powder can be readily absorbed and utilized by
the human body. Milk proteins or milk fat have no effect on the
bioavailability of cocoa flavanols.
Apart from the antioxidant effect, cocoa flavanols have also
shown protective effects on other health parameters such as
maintaining heart health, cognitive function and skin quality.
