Good News About Chocolate!

Yum!! Chocolate!

Chocolate is the only ingredient that is it’s own food group.

Well, not really, but ti seems like it should be! So comforting, creamy and delicious, many of us eat chocolate several times a week.

Which begs the question…

Is chocolate good for you?

The answer is yes and no.

Chocolate has been used for centuries to treat bronchitis, fatigue, hangovers, anemia, depression, memory loss, high blood pressure and more! It also helps release that feel-good neurotransmitter called serotonin in the brain.

But, it’s all about the kind of chocolate you eat. Eating the wrong kind of chocolate will just give you loads of sugar and potentially harmful ingredients.

Eating Chocolate “Responsibly”

Chocolate begins its life as raw cacao (pronounced kah-kow) beans. Loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and plant phenols, cacao is truly a powerful superfood. However, the more processed cacao becomes (as in commercially produced candy bars), the fewer nutritious components remain.

So, how do you get the most out of your chocolate “fix”?

• Don’t be afraid of the dark! The darker the chocolate, the more beneficial cacao it contains. You want the benefit of the antioxidants found in cacao since they are important for healthy lung function. These compounds are thought to improve circulation and reduce inflammation in the body. Plus, dark chocolate is a great source of magnesium, a mineral that helps turn off your body’s stress response! Again, excessive processing of cacao means fewer antioxidants and beneficial compounds, if any, remain.

• Look at percentages. The number on dark chocolate packaging refers to the percentage of cacao bean in the product. The higher the percentage, the more cacao it contains. Look for chocolate with 70-85% cacao for the greatest health benefits.

• Go raw, or as unprocessed as possible. Try raw cacao powder in smoothies or even stirred into oatmeal, or in the recipe below.

Here’s a fun and healthy way to enjoy your cacao fix:

Raw Chocolate Truffles (makes about 25)

1 cup raw cacao powder

1 cup raw macadamia nuts or cashews

1/2 cup real maple syrup (Grade A or B in a glass bottle)

Water

“Roll in” ingredients like shredded coconut, mini dark chocolate chips, finely chopped nuts, ginger, or more cacao powder.

Blend macadamia nuts or cashews (or a mix) in a food processor until powdery- mix in water a little at a time to form a thick paste

Add maple syrup and pulse to combine

Add cacao powder and pulse to combine

Refrigerate this mixture for 4 hours or overnight.

Form into small teaspoon sized balls and roll in shredded coconut or other ingredient.

Enjoy!

Are you curious about how to choose your chocolate or other delicious superfoods to keep your body healthy (and your taste buds happy?) Let’s talk! Schedule a complimentary consultation with me today, or pass this along to someone you care about.