The center of Arinthia's Extraordinary Chocolates is a minced combination of dried cherries, cranberries, blueberries with a bit of ginger to give it an extra zing.

Chocolate

Studies in two prestigious scientific journals say dark chocolate -- but not white chocolate or milk chocolate -- is good for you! Eating more dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure -- if you've reached a certain age and have mild high blood pressure, say the researchers. But you have to balance the extra calories by eating less of other things. What is it about dark chocolate? The answer is plant phenols -- cocoa phenols, to be exact. These compounds are known to lower blood pressure, combat cell damage and boost immune function. Phenolics are the same type of disease-fighting chemicals that can be found in red wine, fruits and vegetables: about 205 milligrams in a 1.5 ounce bar of chocolate, comparable to a 5-ounce glass of red wine. Dark chocolate is a potent antioxidant. But not milk chocolate or dark chocolate eaten with milk as it may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolat. and may therefore negate the health benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate.

Cranberries

Cranberries contain proanthocyanidins (PACs) that can prevent the adhesion of certain of bacteria, including E. coli, associated with urinary tract infections to the urinary tract wall. The anti-adhesion properties of cranberry may also inhibit the bacteria associated with gum disease and stomach ulcers. Recent research shows that cranberries and cranberry products contain significant amounts of antioxidants and other phytonutrients that may help protect against heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

But just what are antioxidants? Antioxidants are compounds that are naturally manufactured by the body and/or are ingested, primarily as components of fruits and vegetables, which have the ability to stabilize free radicals by donating an electron, and at the same time, do not become free radicals themselves. Under conditions of stress, the human body's ability to produce antioxidants can become severely impaired. Cranberries can serve as a good source of supplemental antioxidants. Simply put, antioxidants protect our bodies from harmful molecules we are exposed to every day of our lives. Cranberries score high on the antioxidant scale at 1750 ORAC units per 100 g (about 3.5 oz.) of fresh fruit.

Blueberries

The blueberry is a botanical cousin to the cranberry, and is also very high in antioxidants. From research labs all across the country and the world, there is growing evidence that blueberries could be powerful little disease fighters. Eating blueberries may help you remember where you placed your car keys - important findings if you'd like to keep Alzheimer's and heart disease at bay. The chemical that appears responsible for this neuron protection, anthocyanin also gives blueberries their color and might be the key component of the blueberry's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Cherries

Cherries are packed with perillyl alcohol - a natural chemical that not only flushes cancer causing substances out of the body, but also helps stunt the growth of cancerous cells. In fact, research suggests that perillyl alcohol is so powerful, it could slash the incidence of all types of cancer as much as 50% - making it five times more effective that limonene the proven cancer-fighter found in red grapefruit. Cherries are also high in anthocyanins and antioxidants.

Ginger

In Asian societies, ginger has always been known for its healing powers and as a remedy for motion sickness. Recent research has found it may help prevent migraines by blocking the effects of prostaglandins, substances that cause inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain.