Health benefit of dark chocolate: Pure dark chocolate (also referred to as “couverture”) can actually help lower your cholesterol.
At certain times of a woman’s monthly cycle her body craves magnesium – pure chocolate has a high magnesium count.
Real vanilla is only used in the manufacturing of pure fine chocolate. Most household brands of 'family chocolate' contain an artificial vanilla which is easily smelled and produces a nasty after taste.
The best cocoa comes from Criollo beans (image left). These beans used to be the
main source of cocoa but now they only represent 4% of world
production. The Chocolate Society sells a bar made from pure Criollo
beans.
Recent research shows that chocolate can provide substances called flavonoids. Flavonoids seem to help prevent heart disease and cancer.