Find out more on netpharmacy.co.nz: http://www.netpharmacy.co.nz/antiox-acai-sugar-free-chocolate-block-80gI made a decision that I had been putting off for a while today. I decided I was going to try the Well Naturally AntiOx Chocolate bar with acai berry. It may seem like a strange thing to put off - chocolate is hardly a chore to eat - but when sweets are labelled with 'no sugar' I instantly run away from them, fearing bland and tedious fare.
The AntiOx bar is definitely in the health food corner and this becomes apparent when reading the ingredients. Unfortunately dark chocolate seems to fall into a few common traps. The first is 'dark' chocolate that is actually milk chocolate. The second is dark chocolate that is so pumped full of sugar and preservatives that it loses any health benefits it may have had. The third is dark chocolate that is so devoid of taste it may as well be cardboard. In short it is hard to find good dark chocolate that is not only tasty but good for you too. Luckily the AntiOx bar manages to avoid many of these pitfalls.
What are the health benefits of chocolate?
It is important to differentiate between milk chocolate and dark chocolate when answering this question. A 2003 study published in Nature found that milk inhibited the absorption of the antioxidants found in the chocolate and therefore negated the health benefits of the chocolate. Dark chocolate is made from raw cacao which is classified as a 'superfood', providing more antioxidants than any other known food. It has been linked to preventing cardiovascular disease, improving memory, improving mood and even slowing down aging.
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are phytochemicals, vitamins and other nutrients that protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are formed as part of our natural metabolism but also by environmental factors, including smoking, pesticides, pollution and radiation. Free radicals are unstable molecules which react easily with essential molecules of our body, including DNA, fat and proteins.
Source: http://www.phytochemicals.info/antioxidants.php
What are the health benefits of acai berry?
The acai berry is another superfood with high antioxidant content. It comes from the acai palm which is grown in South America. 90% of the berry is the pit. The valuable part is the dark skin which contains the anthocyanins. It has a high dietary fiber content and the juice is commonly used for detox. Acai has also been linked to weight loss and is popular within the anti aging movement.
Enough of that, so how does it taste?
I was expecting this chocolate to taste absolutely horrible. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it's not only edible but enjoyable too. The bar is a medium thickness and reminds me of the Lindt bars. The chocolate is harder than average due to the lower fat content and takes a little bit longer to melt in the mouth (this is supposedly beneficial however). The acai berry pieces are liberally dispersed throughout the bar and provide a nice tangy berry taste and a chewy texture. The actual chocolate has a slightly unusual taste. I attribute this to the fruit purees and the high cacao content (70%).
Overall this may not be the most mind blowing chocolate you'll ever try. However it does taste nice and it has a great nutritional profile. Great for snacking on during the day without destroying your teeth and expanding the waist line.
On a side note I'd like to apologise to anybody who received an order invoice with chocolate smeared over it. I tried to hold off the review until my desk was cleared but couldn't resist the impulse to keep eating the chocolate. And, well, you know how chocolate is. A little bit falls off here, a little bit there and all of a sudden it's melted into everything you come into contact with. Or maybe that's just me.
| Average Quantity: | Per Serving (14g) | per 100g |
| Energy | 276kJ | 1968kJ |
| Calories | 52.0 cal | 471.0 cal |
| Protein | 0.9g | 6.1g |
| Fat(total) | 5.5g | 39.0g |
| --Saturated | 3.3g | 23.7g |
| --Trans Fats | less then 0.1 | less than 0.1 |
| Carbohydrate (total | 1.8g | 12.6g |
| Carbohydrate from chocolate | 0.7g | 4.8g |
| Carbohydrate from fruit | 1.1g | 7.8g |
| Sugars (from chocolate) | less than 0.03g | less than 0.2g |
| Sugars (from fruit) | 1.0g | 6.9g |
| Dietary Fibre (total) | 3.4g | 24.1g |
| Soluble dietary fibre (includes polydextrose) | 2.4g | 17.1g |
| Erythritol | 1.8g | 12.8g |
| Sodium | 9mg | 65mg |
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