The benefits of LOVING Chocolate!
I have to start this article by letting you know that I LOVE chocolate. Specifically, dark chocolate. I have a couple of pieces most nights! And you can too!
I want to share with you what chocolate actually is and all the beautiful benefits that chocolate offers!
Let’s get into it.
What is Chocolate? Where does it come from?
Chocolate comes from the cacao bean of the Theobroma Cacao Tree which is a tropical tree native to the amazon. The seeds (or beans) from the tree are extracted, fermented, heated, dried and then crushed to make cacao butter by separating the fat and leaving cacao powder.
What are the benefits?
Chocolate has been used medicinally for a very long time and for good reason!
It is packed full of nutritional properties.
-Cacao has amazing antioxidants (such as polyphenols & flavanols). Antioxidants help prevent or slow the damage of free radicals within the body, which is protective against disease and can slow down the signs of ageing. Score!
-Rich in Magnesium & other important minerals like iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper, manganese and sulfur.
-B Vitamins, Vitamin C & E.
-Amino Acids (like tryptophan)
-Oleic Acid
-Fibre
How will it make you feel?
-Mood Boosting
I’m sure you may have experienced that glorious moment of eating chocolate & how much pleasure this brings? Not just me right!?
Interestingly, cacao produces the release of endorphins, which helps to make you feel happy. It also contains tryptophan which the body converts to serotonin and for this reason chocolate is viewed as an anti-depressant. It can also enhance sleep and promote relaxation. Yes please!
-Balances Hormones
Most women can relate to absolutely craving chocolate that time of the month. Serotonin levels decrease when experiencing PMS, so a dose of cacao can assist in balancing levels and making our feel good hormone feel good again.
-Keep your Gut Happy
Cacao helps in improving digestion through the stimulation of digestive enzymes.
There is increasing evidence that the gut microbiome can be positively affected through flavanols and polyphenols which are anti-inflammatory in nature. Polyphenols are believed to combat harmful bacteria within the gut microbiome and increase levels of good bacteria. Pretty amazing. I’ll take another square please!
There are a bunch more benefits such as assisting heart health, suppressing appetite, lowering blood pressure/ blood sugar levels and improving concentration.
What to buy?
The darker the better. I opt for 90%. Believe me, this took some getting used to, as it can be quite bitter if your palate isn’t accustomed to it. So, I recommend working your way up through the percentages. I now find 90% super creamy in my mouth and a couple of squares is all you need, which is great for potion control. Have you ever downed a whole block of chocolate? Yep, it is pretty easy to do with milk chocolate due to the high sugar content.
I like to buy chocolate that is organic and uses fair trade beans. I am always focussing on quality ingredients when it comes to my food. I also always check the ingredient list and avoid unnecessary additives like vegetable oils, soy, lecithin and refined sugars.
Note that Cacao powder is very different from Cocoa powder which has sugar and other fillers added to it.
Make your own
If you want homemade creamy dark chocolate, then you must make my Natural Dark Chocolate.
I love making my own and knowing the ingredients I am using are excellent quality, plus it saves a trip to the grocery store!
So, there you go. Enjoy your chocolate guilt free!
Are you a chocolate lover like me?
