A tasty Kuna secret to healthy living

PANAMA. Secret Potion? Miracle restorative? Healing waters?

Is there any truth to the story that Juan Ponce de Leon discovered the Fountain of Youth in 1513, or that drinking from its waters brings eternal youth?

Well? nearly two million people have flocked to the St. Augustine Florida tourist attraction since it was created by a local promoter, Luella Day McConnell, in 1904.

Did they find what they were looking for? Did the legendary spring provide the therapeutic health results that its mythical curative water promises?

Your guess is as good as mine.

However, if you want a scientifically proven ingredient that is responsible for exceptionally low in cidences of heart disease, stroke, cancer or diabetes then look no further than the Kuna Indians living in the San Blas islands.

For centuries they have drunk generous proportions of cocoa, which is rich in flavanols that maintain youthful blood vessels, lowers the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and memory lose.

Here are some more fascinating facts!

The island dwelling Kuna Indians have a rate of heart disease that is nine times less than those who live on the mainland.

And, once they leave their native islands and move to the mainland, their risk of high blood pressure increases. It’s all attributed to the fact that the island Kuna residents drink 5-6 cups of natural cocoa a day and include it in many of their recipes. The secret is a compound called epicatechin. Epicatechin is a flavonoid that has been recently celebrated for its antioxidant properties and is a naturally occurring substance found in foods such as cocoa, dark chocolate, purple grape juice, and tea.

There is also a connection between antioxidants in chocolate and a reduction in platelet aggregation in blood, and an increase in "good cholesterol" levels. Scientists have reported that Kuna people have probably the most flavonoid-rich diet of any population.

Here’s the other secret. The Kuna people of the San Blas islands have been drinking the pure natural cocoa, not the processed powder cocoa found in supermarkets which is loaded with sugar has been stripped of any of its initial goodness.

So, if you’re looking for the Fountain of Youth, let me suggest that you whip yourself up a nice hot cup of the dark soothing drink made famous by the Kuna Indians.

But remember, it has to be the natural cocoa version and that is most easily found in premium dark chocolate.

Here’s the secret recipe:

Break 1½ ounces of the best dark chocolate, at least 70 percent cocoa solids, into small pieces and put into a blender.

Fill a mug with boiling water and set aside.

Bring a cup of whole milk to the boil. Add half a teaspoon of vanilla extract, then pour the milk into the blender.

Whiz it up until the chocolate has melted completely, pour the boiling water out of the mug and fill the mug with the frothy dark chocolate soup.

You can thank me and the Kuna Indians later!

Rob Kircher is an International marketing and advertising specialist, writer and filmmaker.