Cocoa ingestion decreased fatty acid synthesis and transport in liver and white adipose tissues, determining a body weight, mesenteric white adipose tissue weight and serum triacylglycerol concentrations lower in rats fed the cocoa diet than in those fed the mimetic cocoa diet Please see https://github.com/chocolatey/chocolatey-ansible/#installing-the-collection-from-ansible-galaxy No support to association between chocolate consumption and risk of atrial fibrillation among male physicians Cocoa and flavonols improve glucose homeostasis by slowing carbohydrate digestion and absorption in the gut [ 47, 48]. Indeed, cocoa extracts and procyanidins dose-dependently inhibit pancreatic α-amylase, pancreatic lipase, and secreted phospholipase A2 [ 48, 49]. Cocoa and its flavonols improve insulin sensitivity by regulating glucose transport and insulin signaling proteins in insulin-sensitive tissues (liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle) preventing in these tissues oxidative and inflammatory damage associated with the disease [ 47]. In younger and normal body-weight men, the results from the Physicians’ Health Study reported an inverse relation of chocolate consumption with incident diabetes [ 50]. In a multiethnic United States cohort, authors found a lower risk of developing T2D in subjects with the highest intake of chocolate products and cocoa-derived flavonoids [ 51]. A dose-response meta-analysis, however, suggested a nonlinear association between chocolate consumption and the risk of T2D, with a peak protective effect at 2 servings/week and no benefit recorded when increasing consumption was above 6 servings/week [ 52]. Consumption of almonds alone or combined with dark chocolate under controlled-feeding conditions improved lipid profiles

We have enjoyed becoming chocolate makers as well as product designers. Next we're really looking forward to working with other talented independent creative card designers and illustrators to keep all of our ranges exciting and current. We hope you enjoy our quirky range of products! The characteristics of chocolate were long ignored in Europe owing to difficulties with an environment unfavorable to its growth. The natural habitat of the cocoa tree is the lower level of an evergreen rain forest. Cocoa plants respond well to relatively high temperatures (with a maximum annual average of 30–32 °C and minimum average of 18–21 °C) and generally high relative humidity: often as much as 100% during the day, falling to 70–80% at night [ 6]. According to the latest published data of the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), the total world production of cocoa beans in 2016–17 was 4,739,000 tons, principally from Africa (3,622,000 tons) [ 7]. In vivo and in vitro studies showed that cocoa has regulatory properties on the immune cells implicated in both innate and acquired immunity. In animals, these effects are present at systemic and intestinal level [ 84, 85]. In Lewis rats a 10% cocoa diet or a 0.25% theobromine diet were both able, after one week, to lower serum concentrations of IgG, IgM, IgA, and intestinal IgA, as compared with control diet. Both cocoa and theobromine modified the thymocyte composition increasing CD4-CD8- and CD4+CD8- proportions, and changed the composition of mesenteric lymph node (reduced percentage of T-helper) and spleen (increased proportion of T-helper). Taken together, the data suggest that theobromine is the agent mediating the major immunoregulatory effects of cocoa [ 86]. Dark chocolate consumption was found having anti-inflammatory effects in a 4-week randomized clinical trial, which was especially visible in the reduced post-challenge responses of cytokines, vascular markers, white blood cells, and leukocyte-activation markers [ 87, 88]. The chocolate Brussels Sprout is somewhat of an icon. It reminds us to stay Quirky with our ideas and product development. We always push boundaries, remembering that the silliest ideas are often the best! The Chocolate Library will comprise of over 400 new chocolate bars, ranging from A-Z, so whether customers are after something dark and sultry, heavily loaded with 70% cacao, a bean to bar (made from the producers who own the plantation) such as Willies Cacao, or just a plain bar of good old milk chocolate – Selfridges has the widest range of chocolate in the UK.We started in 2008 with one simple mission: to make well designed quirky gifts that are a pleasure to give. Dark chocolate might also operate in combination with other nutraceuticals, and have positive effects on lipid profile. Our group has recently reported distinct effects of 24 g almond varieties on organoleptic features and on gastrointestinal function (gallbladder and gastric emptying, orocecal transit) in healthy subjects [ 71]. One 4-week crossover feeding trial among 31 overweight or obese adults determined that daily consumption of almonds (42 g/day) alone or combined with dark chocolate was beneficial for total cholesterol, low-density (LDL) lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B concentrations. The authors concluded that incorporating almonds, dark chocolate, and cocoa into a diet without exceeding energy needs could reduce the risk of coronary heart disease [ 72]. Chocolatey Central Management (more components will need to be installed and additional configuration will need to be set) - https://docs.chocolatey.org/en-us/features/paid/chocolatey-central-management A study reported a significantly greater and dose-dependent weight gain over time in subjects with more frequent chocolate consumption. However, no information was provided about the consumer profile of enrolled subjects and the type of chocolate consumed (in particular, the specific amount of dark chocolate) [ 69]. Participants with higher chocolate consumption and higher flavanol intake from cocoa products experienced a lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes

No association between chocolate intake and risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, or both combined was observed ChocolateyCentralManagementUrl = "https://chocolatey-central-management:24020/ChocolateyManagementService"Dark chocolate improved endothelial function and increased concentration of plasmatic epicatechins in healthy adults In 1502, Christopher Columbus was the first European to encounter cocoa. He captured a canoe that contained cocoa beans, which were considered “mysterious-looking almonds” and identified as a form of currency in Mesoamerica [ 2, 3]. Cocoa induced vasodilation via activation of the nitric oxide system, providing a plausible mechanism for the protection that flavanol-rich foods induce against coronary events

Cocoa enhanced several measures of endothelial function (nitric oxide-dependent) to a greater degree among older, in whom endothelial function is more disturbed, than younger healthy subjects Some authors demonstrated that cocoa liquor procyanidins significantly reduced the incidence and multiplicity of lung carcinomas and decreased thyroid adenomas developed in male rats, and inhibited mammary and pancreatic tumorigenesis in female rats [ 59, 60]. Cocoa procyanidins also reduced vascular endothelial growth factor activity and angiogenic activity associated with tumor, determining down-regulation of tyrosine kinase ErbB2 [ 61]. Cocoa and chocolate act as functional foods, since both carry a number of substances contributing to beneficial health effects. Chocolate combines some organoleptic characteristics with aphrodisiac and antidepressant properties, extending its effects beyond the cardiovascular system, metabolic diseases, CNS diseases, and psychological profiles. Regular consumption of chocolate bars containing plant sterols and cocoa flavanols as part of a low-fat diet supported cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol and improving blood pressureIn the last years, the treatment of different ovarian cancer cell lines with various concentrations of cocoa procyanidin-rich extract, inducing cytotoxicity and chemosensitization, showed a significant percentage of cells in sub-G1/G0 (hypodiploid) phase, which increased with increasing concentration, and a significant accumulation of cells in the S phase was seen [ 62]. This effect is probably due to an increase in intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [ 63]. In an animal study, a diet containing dark chocolate reduced the total number of aberrant crypt foci in the colon. The effect was associated with down-regulation in the transcription levels of both COX-2 and ReIA [ 64]. In addition, cocoa significantly decreased the tumor incidence and size in mice with colitis-associated cancer [ 65]. Chocolate consumption was associated with lower risk of myocardial infarction and ischemic heart disease In 2014, working alongside our talented local chocolate partner, we invented the world's most delicious chocolate brussels sprout - made entirely from chocolate of course! Procyanidin-rich extract of natural cocoa powder caused ROS-mediated caspase-3 dependent apoptosis and reduction of pro-MMP-2 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma cell lines