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maandag 7 februari 2011 om 16:41
maandag 7 februari 2011 om 16:47
Intuïtief wist ik dit allang!
Hieronder een abstract van het oorspronkelijke onderzoek:
Cacao seeds are a "Super Fruit": A comparative analysis of various fruit powders and products
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 seeds of the fruit of the Theobroma cacao tree. In this study, we compared cocoa powder and cocoa products to powders and juices derived from fruits commonly considered "Super Fruits".
Results
Various fruit powders and retail fruit products were obtained and analyzed for antioxidant capacity (ORAC (uM TE/g)), total polyphenol content (TP (mg/g)), and total flavanol content (TF (mg/g)). Among the various powders that were tested, cocoa powder was the most concentrated source of ORAC and TF. Similarly, dark chocolate was a significantly more concentrated source of ORAC and TF than the fruit juices.
Conclusions
Cocoa powder and dark chocolate had equivalent or significantly greater ORAC, TP, and TF values compared to the other fruit powders and juices tested, respectively. Cacao seeds thus provide nutritive value beyond that derived from their macronutrient composition and appear to meet the popular media's definition of a "Super Fruit".
Hieronder een abstract van het oorspronkelijke onderzoek:
Cacao seeds are a "Super Fruit": A comparative analysis of various fruit powders and products
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 seeds of the fruit of the Theobroma cacao tree. In this study, we compared cocoa powder and cocoa products to powders and juices derived from fruits commonly considered "Super Fruits".
Results
Various fruit powders and retail fruit products were obtained and analyzed for antioxidant capacity (ORAC (uM TE/g)), total polyphenol content (TP (mg/g)), and total flavanol content (TF (mg/g)). Among the various powders that were tested, cocoa powder was the most concentrated source of ORAC and TF. Similarly, dark chocolate was a significantly more concentrated source of ORAC and TF than the fruit juices.
Conclusions
Cocoa powder and dark chocolate had equivalent or significantly greater ORAC, TP, and TF values compared to the other fruit powders and juices tested, respectively. Cacao seeds thus provide nutritive value beyond that derived from their macronutrient composition and appear to meet the popular media's definition of a "Super Fruit".
maandag 7 februari 2011 om 16:54
De heilzame deeltjes zijn dus o.a. polyfenol en flavanol.
De heilzame werking van polyfenol:
Polyfenolen werken ontstekingsremmend en hebben een anticarcinoge werking. Flavonoïden en anthocyanen beschermen de lichaamscellen tegen vrije radicalen en vertragen de verbranding in de cel. Ook verminderen ze de afzet van vetachtige stoffen in de bloedvaten, waardoor minder arteriosclerose optreedt. Verder kwam uit een studie van het Vanderbilt University Medical Center naar voren dat bij het regelmatig drinken van vruchtensap het risico op de ziekte van Alzheimer met 76% werd verlaagd, waarvoor de polyfenolen verantwoordelijk gehouden worden.
En die van flavanol:
Many studies on health benefits have been linked to the catechin content. According to Norman Hollenberg, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, epicatechin can reduce the risk of four of the major health problems: stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes. He studied the Kuna people in Panama, who drink up to 40 cups of cocoa a week, and found that the prevalence of the “big four” is less than 10%. He believes that epicatechin should be considered essential to the diet and thus classed as a vitamin.
De heilzame werking van polyfenol:
Polyfenolen werken ontstekingsremmend en hebben een anticarcinoge werking. Flavonoïden en anthocyanen beschermen de lichaamscellen tegen vrije radicalen en vertragen de verbranding in de cel. Ook verminderen ze de afzet van vetachtige stoffen in de bloedvaten, waardoor minder arteriosclerose optreedt. Verder kwam uit een studie van het Vanderbilt University Medical Center naar voren dat bij het regelmatig drinken van vruchtensap het risico op de ziekte van Alzheimer met 76% werd verlaagd, waarvoor de polyfenolen verantwoordelijk gehouden worden.
En die van flavanol:
Many studies on health benefits have been linked to the catechin content. According to Norman Hollenberg, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, epicatechin can reduce the risk of four of the major health problems: stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes. He studied the Kuna people in Panama, who drink up to 40 cups of cocoa a week, and found that the prevalence of the “big four” is less than 10%. He believes that epicatechin should be considered essential to the diet and thus classed as a vitamin.
