Resveratrol, Also in Chocolate and Cocoa
According to a study sponsored by the Hershey Company, the antioxidant compound resveratrol found in grapes skin (and thus red wine) is also present in substantial amounts in cocoa and chocolate products. In fact, they say cocoa/chocolate products are second to red wine among known sources of resveratrol.
In the study, top selling retail products from six categories were tested for the level of resveratrol and its sister compound, piceid. The six product categories included cocoa powder, baking chocolate, dark chocolate, semi-sweet baking chips, milk chocolate and chocolate syrup. Gram for gram, cocoa powder had the highest average amount of resveratrol and piceid, followed by baking chocolates, dark chocolates, semi-sweet chips, milk chocolate and then chocolate syrup. In the products studied, the level of piceid was 3 to 6 times the level of resveratrol.
That could mean that chocolate is doubly good for cardiovascular health: resveratrol, plus flavanols! And, it’s alcohol-free, so it’s perfectly suitable for those who need to stay off alcoholic beverages such as wine!
This is great news for chocolate lovers! Pure cocoa provides the best antioxidants for heart health. They stimulate the production of nitric oxide which helps the arteries to relax and dilate. This aids in improved blood circulation. It also helps to hinder the production of plaque and blood clots. The antioxidant power of pure cocoa, resveratrol and green tea are all combined in one health drink, CocoPure. This drink is rich in antioxidant power. It contains an ORAC value of 5,250 for each 7.4 grams! Great for health! I drink it every day!
Chocolate and red wine are great sources, but there are also many other. And too much chocolate isn’t that healthy, eh?
I am not sure about it, but isn’t there resveratrol in cinnamon as well?
Well, I will do some more research and add it to the list of list of resveratrol sources.