This dark Belgian chocolate, made with the unprocessed cocoa bean, is not just a treat, it is one of the most potent antioxidant whole foods you can consume! It is packed with flavonoids, minerals and nutrients. Unprocessed cocoa improves health by protecting cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.

Traditional chocolate is heat-processed, which destroys the flavonoids. Xoçai (pronounced sho sigh) chocolate is made with a patented cold-processed technology and then blended with the açai berry – nature’s other ‘complete food’. The açai berry is bursting with antioxidants and is also loaded with Omega 6 and Omega 9 fatty acids; 8 of the 9 essential amino acids, calcium, iron and more. The açai berry is the second highest source of antioxidants in the world – 14 times more than raw spinach!

How are Antioxidants measured? ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbancy Capacity) is a measurement of the capacity of a food to absorb oxygen free radicals. Xoçai chocolate contains the highest ORAC values of any food - independently certified by Brunswick laboratories. One 6g Xoçai power square is equivalent in antioxidant value to over half of a pound of raw spinach! A daily intake of 3 x 6g Xoçai power squares is equivalent in flavonoid value to twelve pounds of raw tomatoes - and contains only 100 calories in total!

Xoçai is registered with Health Canada as a Natural Health Product which means all the claims can be substantiated – it does what it says on the box!

The benefits of Healthy Chocolate:

• Caffeine-free

• diabetic-friendly

• cacao improves the body’s ability to use insulin

• assists cardio-vascular health

• it’s suitable for vegetarians and vegans

• gluten and lactose-free

• the flavonoids in cacao may help keep blood vessels elastic, which can lower blood pressure and decrease the stress on the heart

• the antioxidant compounds in cacao may decrease the inflammation associated with arthritis, or other inflammatory disease.

• cacao contains antibacterial agents that may discourage tooth decay

• cacao before meals actually diminishes your appetite

• experts believe that a diet rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant polyphenols can have a protective effect on the prostate gland

• Certified kosher

Summary of the findings of the University of Utah study on Xoçai chocolate By Dr. Britton, June 2008

• Increased plasma antioxidant (oxidation drives atherosclerosis which is associated with inflammation and vascular function)

• Increased level of glutathione in blood by eating Xoçai chocolate (cells make this to defend themselves against free radicals)

• Increased urinary isoprostanes- a dramatic decrease was found in a 2 week period and maintained long term (these are the waste products of oxidation)

• Decreased levels of inflammation in the body – inflammation is believed to be the cause of over 200 degenerative diseases including heart disease and Alzheimer’s

• Blood pressure decreased in two weeks with 5mm drop in 4 weeks - this is a similar amount as for changing lifestyle in systolic and diastolic levels

• this response happened very quickly and increased with more time on the chocolate

• the result was seen even in people with normal blood pressure to start

• the higher the blood pressure at the start, the faster the drop (This indicates a great benefit in eating Xoçai chocolate for people with hypertension and pre-hypertension - doctors do not use medication for pre-hypertension and the chocolate provides an effective way to lower blood pressure)

• Insulin sensitivity measured by the QUICI index showed improvement over two weeks and more in 4 weeks (usually it takes medication for this result)

• Glucose challenge test OGTT- this showed increased insulin secretion after a challenge or meal indicating improved pancreatic function and lower diabetes risk

• Insulin response improved after 2 weeks with added benefit after 4 weeks - Glucose response decrease showing that the body was dealing with it more effectively

• ApoA1 which indicates level of good cholesterol HDL improved at 2 weeks

• Lean body mass- Xoçai increased amount of lean tissue over time

• Adiponectin- good product of fat cells which increases with weight loss and increases HDL - adiponectin increased at 2 and 4 weeks with Xoçai chocolate Also the study found that people experienced less heartburn, less PMS and improved sleep.