Ask Dr. Gott: Don't seek help in pyramid sales

Dear Dr. Gott: Would you please comment on the use of Xocai? It is a dark-chocolate product promoted to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and reduce inflammatory problems such as arthritis, and it is ...

[Dr D H De Vore]

I would submit that Dr. Gott does not understand the methodology of conducting simple abstract research. There has been research from practically every medical and holistic discipline that dark chocolate has incredible health benefits. That does not include chocolate candy or other commercial chocolates. The research references raw cacao.
Xocai, to my knowledge, is the only labeled product that has successfully cold processed chocolate and retains the full spectrum of antioxidants and the flavanoids. The University of Utah, division of cardiovascular genetics, has just completed a study on the Xocai product and verifies that it does indeed have a positive effect on blood pressure. Further studies to include a full lipid panel will also be conducted.
Inflammation is now considered to be relevant in a number of degenerative conditions and the raw cacao contains a natural anti-inflammatory. Dr. Norman Hollenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Harvard University, has conducted credible research and has stated that the nutritional benefits from consuming raw cacao is so important that it may rival the discovery of penicillin and anasthesia!! Why would he make such a statement? He further states that we may well be able to wipe out 4 out of the 5 major degenerative diseases by regularly consuming raw cacao. He was unaware that MXI, the manufacturers of Xocai, had patented a cold processing technique just months before he was quoted in the Journal, Science.
Simply enter "darkchocolateantioxidant s" into Google and there will be endless entries. I can tell you that my wife no longer has Migraine symptoms after eating Xocai for a period of 3 months. The chocolate appears to increase blood flow, oxygen and contains nitric oxide, all of which creates the opposite condition that is evident in the Migraine patient. Draw your own conclusions!
Also, Xocai has a proprietary process that prevents an enzyme from breaking down the 2 most important antioxidants, catechins and epicatechins. Without this process the product would lose its efficacy within a week.

Network marketing is NOT to be confused with a pyramid scheme. The company has been operating for 3 years in 5 countries. Perhaps one should question Warren Buffet; he owns network marketing companies as does Citibank.

The Dr. "Gott" this one wrong.......he should retract his comments.

[Violet Mansur]

Dr Gott did not do his research on Dark Chocolate

Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology 2007
Volume 49(2), Pages 74-80

3/7/2007 - Smokers should be encouraged to indulge their sweet tooth, judging from the results of a new study into how daily consumption of a specially-prepared cocoa beverage benefits blood vessel function.

The research, published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, monitored a group of 11 healthy male smokers who consumed three doses a day of a flavanol-rich Cocoa drink . The volunteers consumed a total of 918mg of flavanols daily during the trial.

Within two days participants showed a significant improvement in blood vessel function and rese archers noted that impairment of blood flow could almost be reversed with consumption of a mixture containing 306mg of flavanols on day seven.

Scientists concluded that regular consumption of special cocoa containing flavanols may have a sustained benefit on blood vessel health and possibly even reverse damage in vessel function.

The discovery joins the growing body of research into the far-reaching health benefits of cocoa and in particular the flavanol present in unprocessed beans.

Recently chocolate manufacturers have been vociferous in pushing the health aspects of cocoa to combat consumer concerns, with confectioners such as Nestlé and Mars pouring investment into nutrition research.

Aside from the circulatory benefits of flavanols, other research into their effects suggests they can halt the development of cancer cells, lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure.

A week after the stu dy ended, participants discovered that blood vessel function had ret urned to pre-trial levels, indicating that flavanol consumption must be maintained.

The study, conducted by the University of California and the University Hospital in Aachen, Germany, stresses that further clinical trials are necessary to more accurately determine the impact of flavanols on circulatory health.

Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology 2007
Volume 49(2), Pages 74-80

[Ginny Nickerson]

Dr. Gott's definitely did not do his homework about the positive effects of dark, healthy chocolate. If you "google" Xocai and go onto their website under products, all the ingredients are listed for each individual product. Also, there is a link to Dr. Steven Warren's website which has documented information about the health benefits of dark healthy chocolate. I personally have been eating Xocai products for over a year and my skin, gums and overall health have noticeably improved. I have also lost weight as I will eat a piece of healthy chocolate instead of "junk" food. The fact that "Success Magazine" showcased MXI Corp's Xocai chocolate in the July, 2008 issue should carry some validity. I would question Dr. Gott's credentials if he is giving incorrect information by not thoroughly investigating a food and company before publicly denouncing it.

[Jennifer Dobbins]

Dr. Gott clearly did NO research about cocoa or Xocai. All of the ingredients used in every product are listed quite clear on MXI's website. Also, there are hundreds to thousands of research studies on the health benefits of cocoa, which is actually a vegetable. So in one sense, Dr. Gott is correct, eat your fruits and veggies- including your Xocai chocolate!

Also, I believe the definition of a pyramid scheme is if there is no product sold. This is obviously not the case with Xocai. There is definitely product sold, a product that many people are experiencing life changing results from.

Please check out a much more thorough and educated response to this preposterousness in the link below.

http://goodnewsaboutchocolate.com/

[Tracy Jones]

Apparently, Dr. Gott did not research Xocai before he posted his comment. I've studied this company, MXI, at great length for 3 months and found relevant information to support it's claims. Xocai carries he Brunswick seal of approval, no easy feat, and does list all it's ingredients and their caloric value, fat content, fiber count, etc.

I think before a "professional" makes statements he ought to do his due diligence. I did!

What would be different if this product was sold on store shelves vs independent distribution. Not only does Dr. Gott not understand Xocai or the benefits or dark unprocessed cocoa, but he doesn't even understand multi-level marketing (or network marketing) as is evident by his comment that it is a pyramid type company. If he did his research probably not only would he find out that Xocai is in fact a healthy chocolate, but that the company is a honorable and ethical network marketing company and is probably even more ethical than the Walmarts and GNC's of the world!

Dr. Gott, before you post uneducated comments, perhaps you'd like to do a bit of research! Thank you.

[Johnathan Harker]

Obviously Dr. Gott did not do his research! Because it did not conform to my warped beliefs. How dare he refute the findings of an organization that was obviously paid by MXI corp to get their seal of approval. Xocai is a fine product! It got rid of my diabetes, cancer, AIDS, hemorrhoids and whatever else it cures claimed by the millions of sheep um.... I mean marketers that sell this product.

[Johnathan Harker]

BTW, Ginny I looked up success magazine and I could not find anything related to MXI or Xocai. I guess the chocolate causes delusions too.