DAY 55: "Is it working? I am amazed how the weight is flying off, as my falling pants indicate, and my efforts are still minor in the scheme of things.

Having Healthy Chocolate as the base of my new nutritional regime is definitely the major factor. My consumption of 70,000 Total ORACfn and over 2,000 Flavonoids in any given day is strictly from the Chocolate, without even factoring in the counts from the other healthy foods I’m eating, so it’s the whole combination that is easing off the pounds.

Can it be as simple as including healthy chocolate and other foods in my diet, plus moderate exercise?"

Scientists have long known that the cacao bean contains a variety of compounds and nutrients that can benefit athletic performance.

In fact, a study from the University of Indiana found that chocolate milk provided better recovery results for cyclists than did standard athletic carbohydrate drinks. And many in the running, biking and racing worlds are now enthusiastically embracing chocolate milk as their recovery drink of choice.

Science has shown that the cacao bean is a treasure trove of nutrients that deliver a wide range of benefit to the body. The following are just some of its primary nutrients: catechins, epicatechins, flavanols, flavonoids, theobromine, tyramine, tryptophan, anandamide, phenylethylamine (PEA) and arginine.