Real World Paleo

In Episode 87 of the Real World Wellness podcast, Christine kicks off a two-part series on dark chocolate: Part 1 traces the history of chocolate several hundred years ago to the cacao plant grown in South America, which was used to make beverages by native American Indians and then the Spaniards. Christine talks about other areas of the world where cacao plants are grown and the harvesting and fermentation of the seeds which are the beans. Because cacao plants contain phytonutrients including flavanols, there are many health benefits of eating dark chocolate. Resources: http://www.reversediabetescoach.com/a-nutrition-researcher-shares-which-foods-and-drinks-have-more-antioxidants-and-their-health-benefits/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobroma_cacao http://www.scharffenberger.com/our-story/about-cacao/ Next Episode: In part two of the series, Christine will discuss the process of making artisanal chocolate, and what to look for when choosing a high-quality dark chocolate, including the importance of