For Your Health

As you must know (there is more and more polyphenol science being conducted), chocolate can be super healthy. We all love that the cocoa in chocolate is full of polyphenols that scavenge the body for free radicals and benefit heart health! But if you think the U.S. and North America are the most chocolate-centric, think again! Currently, Asia Pacific leads the world in consuming so-called ‘functional chocolate:’ i.e. healthier, less sugary chocolate.

What else has cocoa been found to do?

• Lower blood pressure. "The magnitude of the hypotensive effects of cocoa is clinically noteworthy; it is in the range that is usually achieved with monotherapy of beta-blockers or antiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors," wrote the authors in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
• Protect the skin from UV damage. In 2006, German researchers reported that a daily flavanol-rich chocolate drink could thicken skin and reduce reddening by 25 percent.
• Promote brain health and reduce the risk of dementia. Research found that two weeks of consuming flavanol-rich chocolate, providing 900 mg of cocoa flavanols daily, produced significant improvements in the blood flow in the brain, particularly in the middle cerebral artery.

So go forth this Halloween, and enjoy your treats Gnosis-Style! It may just improve your thinking, blood pressure, and skin!!!

Beans..Whole Grains…Chocolate?!

Yes my friends, the day has come: you can now get your protein from your chocolate!! Gnosis Chocolate unveils our newest flavor: PowerChoc! The ultimate natural protein bar has arrived, and it is not only cruelty-free (no milk in this bar!), it is also free of two of the most common allergens: soy and gluten.

So where does our PowerChoc get its additional ‘power’ from? The Power of PowerChoc is twofold:

1. Highly Absorbable Protein from hempseed, sprout powders, almonds  (the highest protein, lowest fat nut!), sunflower seeds, maca (also an adaptogenic and aphrodisiac herb!*) spirulina & chlorella (two protein-dense, high chorophyll algaes), and goji berries (loaded with an impressive array of nutrients and phytochemicals.

2. Medicinal Herbs for Assimilation- Siberian Ginseng, blue-green algae, and cordyceps mushroom.

Let’s go in depth!

Hemp. I know you stopped at this word! Relax, this superfood is a wonderful way to get protein. In PowerChoc we use hemp in the form of a mild-tasting protein–powder. The powder alone has more than three and a half grams of protein per tablespoon – and contains all of the essential amino acids, making it a complete protein as well.

Essential Amino acids serve as the building blocks of protein and are vital for muscle regeneration, the development of lean body tissue, and the continued health of bones, skin, hair, and nails. They are vital for life, and especially so for those looking to build more muscle mass.

The bar also has Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero). This is possibly the world's most renowned herb for energy, stamina, and physical endurance, memory, mental acuity, and - being an adaptogenic herb - it helps with adaptation to stress by supporting the adrenal glands. Eluthero has also shown to improve the use of oxygen by the exercising muscle, so you can maintain aerobic exercise for longer, with shorter recovery time. PowerChoc is perfect gym food!

We also included “Super Ginseng,” or Cordyceps Mushrooms. In traditional Chinese Medicine, Cordyceps Sinensis is considered to benefit the lung and kidney channels. It is commonly used with the elderly in China as a type of "super ginseng" for rejuvenation and stamina.

And if you’re at all wary about the taste of all of these herbs, nuts, and powders, do not fear, as great care has been taken to ensure that all of the ingredients in the Gnosis PowerChoc bar combine to create a taste that is rich, tempting, and enlivening.

There is no other bar on the planet so CHOC full of POWER!

Magic Spell Sel

Gnosis’s Fleur de Sel bar is a salty-sweet experience created by your very own blogger, Sarah! It combines two types of salt. The first kind, Fleur de Sel, is mixed through the bar; the second kind, Himalayan Crystal salt is sprinkled on the outside of the bar.

Fleur de Sel, naturally moist, and so fine it requires no grinding is harvested completely without any machinery. Compared with table salt's two minerals, fleur de sel has 92, including potassium, magnesium, and calcium! The crystals are hand-harvested by artisan salt workers in France, called paludiers, whose method  of skimming the top of the salt marsh with rakes traces back 1000 years. The salt dries naturally by sun and wind.

 The Himalayan Crystal Salt is pink and mined in India out of rock. This salt is very mineral-rich: 84 minerals trapped inside the crystal matrix structure! These crystals are small enough to be able to penetrate the human cells in a form that can be easily assimilated and metabolized by the body.

Historically, sea and rock salt were well known to the ancient Greeks who noted that eating salty food affected basic body functions such as digestion and excretion. They began to use the salt medically. Hippocrates frequently made use of salt in healing, he mentions inhalation of steam from salt-water; we know today that the anti-inflammatory effects of inhaled salt provide relief from respiratory symptoms. 20000 years ago, Greek medicine had already discovered topical use of salt for skin lesions, drinking salty or mineralized waters for digestive troubles and inhaling salt for respiratory diseases! I think they may have worshiped Gnosis’ Fleur de Sel bar!

So to review, salt helps with digestion, is a strong natural antihistamine, and is essential for the prevention of muscle cramps. Try this awesome flavor for yourself, and enjoy the way the salt intensifies all of the cacao flavor!

 

Be an Insider: Try it First!

With our new Beta Choc program, everyone has the opportunity to test out new flavors before they are formally introduced to the public. YOU get to tell us what you think needs tweaking. Of course, if you can’t find any way that the flavor could be improved, we would like to hear that too! All you need to do is order the bar (at the low price of $5.95 for 2 oz) and then send us feedback (BetaChoc@gnosischocolate.com) on the following elements:

1. Smell (1-10 possible points)

2. Look / Shine (1-10 possible points)

3. Taste (1-10 possible points)

4. Consistency / Mouth-Feel (1-10 possible points)

5. Finish (1-10 possible points)

It's best to be a BetaChoc tester if you have already purchased chocolate from our website and know how our Simplicity tastes, or if you have a bar of our chocolate purchased online to compare to. When purchased online, the chocolate is extremely fresh and so it will be a fair test!

The Post You've Been Waiting For

Hooray! You have one more reason to order and eat more delicious healthy chocolate: Gnosis’s  bulk chocolate!!!! Not only does this mean more chocolate at a lower price for your personal snacking pleasure, but now you can spread the joy. Use your pounds of chocolate at dinner parties, special events, and inside your own trail mix concoctions and recipes! Here are a few ideas:

1.  Raw fudge with walnuts

2. Trail mix with peanuts, dried cherries, and Gnosis bits!

3.  Crumble some atop a scoop of sorbet for the perfect dessert

4. Mix into a spicy pepper sauce for a savory protein garnish

And, of course, enjoying the chocolate in its solitary glory, right out of the bag ;)