For centuries, people have totally delighted in eating dark chocolate (made from cocoa, from the cacao tree). Not too long ago, chocolate was a “no no” for restricted diets, somewhat based on the prevailing belief that if it tastes good it’s bad for you!

Specifically, cocoa contains polyphenols called flavonoids. The flavonoids found in cocoa are flavanols known as flavan-3-ol and proanthocyanidins, among other healthy compounds like epicatechin, quercetin and glycosides. These are all specific antioxidants that work in the body in targeted ways.

According to chocolate industry expert Leah Porter, Ph.D., studies analyzing cocoa have evolved rather rapidly from the stage of identifying its active phytochemicals as described above to researching how they impact specific health conditions affecting the breast, heart, and respiratory system to name several.

It’s no surprise that in recent years, cocoa has earned exalted status because of research demonstrating health benefit. Cocoa (which chocolate is derived from) contains antioxidants known as flavonoids. A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown that cocoa containing 495 mg of naturally occurring polyphenols helped reduce levels of inflammatory markers that are known contributors to the development of atherosclerosis.

And eating good-quality dark chocolate AND taking a cocoa-antioxidant supplement is the best way to obtain antioxidant health benefits.

You may have wondered, “just what us a ‘superfruit?” and “what gives it its super powers?”

A “superfruit” is a fruit that is combined with rich nutrients and high antioxidant power.  Fruits naturally grow their own antioxidants as protective mechanisms for their particular climate and environment.  Those that grow in tropical locales tend to have higher concentrates of antioxidants due to natural assaults found in hot, humid ecosystems that also contain high numbers of insects and bacteria – all things the fruit needs to protect itself from.

You may have heard about noni and acai, two very popular supplements sold by retailers.  They are nutritious for supplementing, as powerful antioxidants flooding the body with natural phytochemicals that help keep you healthy!  Acai is packed with amino acids, essential fatty acids and antioxidants, as well as trace minerals and phytosterols. Noni offers you lignans, polysaccharides, beta-sitosterol and catechin, and other antioxidant compounds.

Mangosteen is often sold as a juice blend. It is uniquely abundant in xanthones, a type of strong antioxidant. Xanthones also have been shown to have other benefits such as anti-inflammatory properties. Mangosteen also has polysaccharides, sterols, catechins and proanthocyanidins, the last two being very strong antioxidants.

Pomegranate is also more widely known and consumed today for its antioxidant benefits.   Pomegranates contain ellagitannins, such as punicalagins, which are powerful antioxidant polyphenolic compounds.

It is easy to see how blending all these superfruits is wholesome for good health.  Our proprietary product, PhytoTropic™, features concentrates of all four superfruits as a powerful antioxidant ingredient.