BACKGROUND Numerous popular media sources have developed lists of "Super Foods" and, more recently, "Super Fruits". Such distinctions often are based on the antioxidant capacity and content of naturally occurring compounds such as polyphenols within those whole fruits or juices of the fruit which may be linked to potential health benefits. Cocoa powder and chocolate are made from an extract of ...

The problem of Salmonella contamination in dried foods has underscored our lack of knowledge concerning the heat resistance of enteric microorganisms in dry and semidry environments. Confectionery manufacturing is one of the food industries concerned with dry-heat destruction of Salmonella. The discovery of these organisms in several chocolate-containing products in the recent past has raised t...

AIMS The aim of this study was to determine glycaemic index (GI) of 10 popular foodstuffs/mixed meals in healthy persons. METHODS Ten tested foodstuffs and glucose standard were consumed in three replicates in the course of a defined 9-day meal plan: puffed rice squares with chocolate, dark chocolate, white bread, honey and glucose for breakfast (at 7 a.m.) and dinner (at 8 p.m.); pasta with ...

Social and psychological stressors are both a part of daily life and are increasingly recognized as contributors to individual susceptibility to develop diseases and metabolic disorders. The present study investigated how snacks differing in sensory properties and presentation can influence ratings of affect in consumers with different levels of dispositional anxiety. This study examines the re...

Aim: To investigate if different amounts of lycopene embedded into cocoa butter micelles of dark chocolate affect serum lipid profile of hypercholesterolemia patients. Study Design: 32 clinically healthy volunteers with borderline hyperlipidemia were enrolled in a 4 week dietary trial. The study participants ingested daily one 10 g bar of L-tug dark chocolate (DC) which contained 0, 2, 3.5 or 7...

BACKGROUND The aim was to examine the effects of high-cocoa polyphenol-rich chocolate on lipid profiles, weight, blood pressure, glycemic control, and inflammation in individuals with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. METHODS Sixty individuals [32 in dark chocolate group (DCG) and 28 in white chocolate group (WCG)] with Type 2 diabetes on stable medication were enrolled in a randomized, place...

Background: Consumption of dark chocolate has been often hypothesized to have a role in the prevention of chronic diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of consumption of dark chocolate (DC) on serum oxidative stress and blood pressure (BP) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: An 8-week parallel randomized clinical trial involving 114 patients with ...