17 replies to this topic

[ryukenden]

I have bought a couple of packets of raw cacao powder and have been drinking a couple of tea spoonfuls per day.

I am a bit concerned about the saturated fat content. It might be harmful to one’s health?

[Mind]

I drink baking cocoa in my coffee almost every day along with either a tablespoon of butter or a tablespoon of coconut oil. I am not worried about the fat content.

[Oakman]

I'd be more concerned about the lead and cadmium content of raw cacao powder than fat/calories or anything else. Testing has show that the large majority of these products, even from name brand companies, are problematic in this regard. Most of the lab results are to be found on subscription sites. I am a subscriber to one of these, and when I saw the results, frankly, I was shocked, and have since cut my consumption and also been very careful to choose the brands/products that have low concentrations of those toxic metals in them.

[Mind]

I'd be more concerned about the lead and cadmium content of raw cacao powder than fat/calories or anything else. Testing has show that the large majority of these products, even from name brand companies, are problematic in this regard. Most of the lab results are to be found on subscription sites. I am a subscriber to one of these, and when I saw the results, frankly, I was shocked, and have since cut my consumption and also been very careful to choose the brands/products that have low concentrations of those toxic metals in them.

 

That is a great point! If you can afford the high end, more "pure" cocoa powder...go for it.

 

One interesting thing to remember though, is that through all the years of research on the very beneficial health effects of cocoa, almost all the population studies were from people who were consuming regular "low-grade" (by LongeCity standards) commercial cocoa. Yet they live longer and are in better health than people who do not consume cocoa. This tells me that the health benefits must be much greater than the negative effects from the toxins.

[ryukenden]

I bought this one. Now worried about lead and cadmium.

https://www.amazon.c...uct/B071Z3VQBG/

[ryukenden]

I previously bought the following brand.

https://www.amazon.c.../dp/B01B0T0L8K/

[ryukenden]

That is a great point! If you can afford the high end, more "pure" cocoa powder...go for it.

One interesting thing to remember though, is that through all the years of research on the very beneficial health effects of cocoa, almost all the population studies were from people who were consuming regular "low-grade" (by LongeCity standards) commercial cocoa. Yet they live longer and are in better health than people who do not consume cocoa. This tells me that the health benefits must be much greater than the negative effects from the toxins.

I read cacao powder is healthier than cocoa which is processed and may have lost flavinols and other nutrients.

Which brand do you recommend?

[John250]

I take around 500-1000mg

http://nootropicsdep...extract-powder/

[Mind]

I read cacao powder is healthier than cocoa which is processed and may have lost flavinols and other nutrients.

Which brand do you recommend?

 

I can't afford the high quality stuff (but hopefully in the future). I just buy baking cocoa from the grocery store. I sometimes eat the nibs, maybe a couple bags in a year, which is a nice treat.

[Oakman]

As You Sow has conducted independent laboratory testing of over 120 chocolate products for lead and cadmium

 

Finally found an un-paywalled testing for heavy metals in chocolate. These are tested against California's allowable levels, as the US does NOT (!) have any statutory limits for these toxins. Read this and weep, sadly. As You Sow also filed a lawsuit against several companies here is the result.

 

Also, here is a discussion of Consumer's Lab results for lead and cadmium (not the actual results for each product tested, due to paywall), but there are some excerpts >  https://www.crsociet...acao-products/  But I can tell you, as I have seen those results that they are not good at all!

 

Caveat Emptor!

[Oakman]

That is a great point! If you can afford the high end, more "pure" cocoa powder...go for it.

 

One interesting thing to remember though, is that through all the years of research on the very beneficial health effects of cocoa, almost all the population studies were from people who were consuming regular "low-grade" (by LongeCity standards) commercial cocoa. Yet they live longer and are in better health than people who do not consume cocoa. This tells me that the health benefits must be much greater than the negative effects from the toxins.

 

One thing I consistently note in my research on this is that price seems to bear no relationship to contamination of heavy metals. If anything some of the more mass market brands aka 'cheaper' have less, likely due to the extensive processing that they incur.

[dazed1]

Plant based saturated fat is never an issue, expect if its in processed form AKA OILS.

[Phoebus]

Catechin inhibits Cd absorption. Cacao is of course full of catechins

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4303853/

 

 

 

 Cadmium induced mitochondrial injury and apoptosis in vero cells: Protective effect of diallyl tetrasufide from garlic. 

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/16971165

 

 

The chemopreventive effects of aged garlic extract against cadmium-induced toxicity.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/21843808

 

So you could take a garlic supplement every time you eat chocolate. Garlic supplements are pretty awesome anyway for lots of reasons. EGCG also good source of cetechins

 

Chcocolate bar plus garlic pill plus EGCG, sounds delicious and healthy 

 

(pasted from a comment I made on another similar thread)

 

[John250]

I like taking my flavonoids all at once on empty stomach:

500-1000mg Chocamine
350mg Pomella extract
400mg EGCg
25mg 7,8 DHF
Grapeseed extract
pterostilbene
Hesperetin
Naringenin
Quercetin

[dazed1]

Drop the EGCG imho, risky.

[Phoebus]

I like taking my flavonoids all at once on empty stomach:

500-1000mg Chocamine
350mg Pomella extract
400mg EGCg
25mg 7,8 DHF
Grapeseed extract
pterostilbene
Hesperetin
Naringenin
Quercetin

 

 certain flavonoids, like quercetin, for instance are greatly enhanced by taking them with fat. 

 

https://onlinelibrar.../mnfr.201200619

[John250]

certain flavonoids, like quercetin, for instance are greatly enhanced by taking them with fat.

https://onlinelibrar.../mnfr.201200619

Thanks I’ll have to research those more

[Phoebus]

Thanks I’ll have to research those more

 

https://www.nutraing...tion-against-it