CHOCOLATE
America's favorite junk food has quickly moved to the top of the nutrient rich list of foods and been classified as being beneficial to health. What could be better than hearing that this once "guilty pleasure" is now something to indulge in. Lets be clear and break down this news into sound nutritional advice so that you can reap the benefits of chocolate. Chocolate gets it's reputation of being junk food because of its high white sugar content as well as the refining process plus other ingredients which are added to it to make it into such a tempting treat. The truth is, in order to really get the nutritional benefits you must go to the source, the cacao bean, which is what chocolate is made from.
Cacao beans that are unprocessed and in their natural state are the one of the most nutrient rich foods in the world. When you hear the statement chocolate is good for you, it is actually the unprocessed cacao bean. They are available raw, roasted or some companies make what are called "nibs" that are peeled and broken up. Eating raw cacao beans is the most rich but not the best tasting version. Roasting gives better flavor but has some loss in nutrients. Nibs are great for using in recipes. It is also important to buy this wonderful source of chocolate organically grown, so it is even closer to it's actual state. We prefer the roasted cacao beans for their rich flavor. You just peel and eat them or grind them up to use while cooking. They make a tasty and healthy addition in some of your favorite chocolate recipes such as; desserts, smoothies, and just about anything that calls for chocolate or cocoa.
Here are a few ways to enjoy nutrient rich chocolate:
• Banana Chocolate Shake
1 frozen banana
2 T cacao beans
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup whole milk
Ice
• Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
1 cup hazelnuts
4T ground cacao beans
2T honey
1T coconut oil
½ tsp vanilla extract
Dash of salt
Blend in a food processor
Lets go over some of the main nutrient rich benefits of chocolate. Cacao has more antioxidants than blueberries, green tea and red wine. Antioxidants help protect against free radicals, may reduce the risk of certain cancers and protect against premature aging. Also promoting cardiovascular health by lowering LDL cholesterol, reducing blood clotting, regulating blood pressure and heart rate. This in turn reduces heart attack and stroke risk.
Chocolate in its unprocessed form is said to increase the level of certain neurotransmitters in the brain such as; Serotonin, Endorphins, Anandamide, and Phenylethylamine. All of these chemicals help elevate mood and aid relaxation. Chocolate is also rich in essential minerals magnesium and sulfur, as well as essential fats similar to that of olive oil.
The main concept here is, yes chocolate is great for you, but it must be eaten in it's natural state, the cacao bean. You will be surprised how much satisfaction you get from eating chocolate in this form. It does help control those crazy sugar cravings and gets you an amazing amount of nutrients. It doesn't have to be such taboo any longer to indulge!
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