Chocolate for your health?

While “sweet oils and fats” rank low on the food pyramid, you may soon want to take another look at chocolate. As this natural product of the cacao bean is further studied, it seems only more good aspects are coming to light! Chocoholics may have reason to rejoice, but that doesn’t mean just any chocolate will do if you want to use it to combat aging, sensitize insulin, and fight heart disease. If you’re firmly in ‘vanilla camp’, skip this article because you’re about to learn just how amazing this delicious food really is.

The history of chocolate began a long time ago, with the natives of South America. You probably learned in history class how ancient Aztec kings drank up to 10 cups of cocoa water a day, hoping it would lead to immortality. While it clearly didn’t work miracles, it was delicious and helped his health. The story continues to this day, with a discovery on the island of San Blas. The people who live there drink many cups of cocoa every day, and when studied, they were found to have an extremely low incidence of common diseases such as diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, and heart disease. But don’t just take my word for it, use Google to search for words like “San Blas Island” and “American Journal Clinical Nutrition” as they have written studies on the subject.

If you want to skip studying, it’s time to get down to business with chocolate.

Why is it so good for you?

Chocolate is loaded with antioxidants. These special substances fight free radical damage in the body. Free radicals are caused by oxidation (you, your breath), pollution or chemicals (it’s everywhere), and normal metabolism of food, as well as exercise. The more antioxidants you have, the better it is at stopping free radical damage and fighting the signs of aging. But how much is inside the chocolate? Blueberries (and other dark berries) are widely touted for their antioxidant properties…but dark chocolate has 12 times the ORAC value of blueberries! What is ORAC? (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) is a statistic judged by the US Department of Agriculture.

Second, chocolate contains magnesium. Magnesium not only helps you sleep better, helps you better absorb calcium from food, and supports your heart health, but it also works for your immune system. Chocolate is one of the easiest natural sources of magnesium. Brazil nuts have it too, but how common are they? And if you don’t like them?

Third, it helps with insulin sensitivity. Callousness can lead to diabetes, so you want all the sensitivity you can get. Proper regulation of blood sugar also helps you maintain steady energy throughout the day. Along with this comes the ability to lower blood pressure and increase vascular health. After all, the big cacao drinkers in San Blas have a very low rate of heart disease, and their cacao is the key.

When you do your research, you might find that Mars (makes M&Ms and other candies) invests money for scientists to study chocolate. Of course, they would love to find a way to make their tasty products good for people too. So why didn’t you hear about the study? Because she discovered that sugar-free dark chocolate is what works. NO chocolate bars, milk chocolate, white chocolate, or sugary candy. The sugar in candy causes inflammation and an insulin reaction, so it’s not going to help you. The study results may have disappointed the company, but they can still benefit you!

How much do you need to eat a day?

Just about 2 teaspoons (that’s not much!) will give you a beneficial level of all the wonders cocoa has to offer. The best kind to get is chocolate with as little sugar as possible. Unsweetened cocoa (also called baking cocoa, dark chocolate) is ideal, especially if you choose an organic brand. This is ONLY cocoa, with nothing else added. Be sure to avoid the “Dutch Process” and “Special Dark” varieties, as they have been treated, and that removes some of the benefits.

How can you eat it?

Asking a chocolate lover how to eat chocolate might seem a bit silly, but when you’re reaching for 2 teaspoons a day, for as long as possible, it can become a chore. Since it is sugar free, you can’t expect to mix it with milk or water and have something you like. There are plenty of ways to get your 2 teaspoons of health power per day, when you know another natural secret: Stevia. Stevia is derived from the leaf of the stevia plant, but it looks like a white powder. It tastes VERY sweet, but does not produce an insulin response. It’s also natural and safe, unlike artificial sweeteners. With it, you can sweeten without sugar or inflammation. Now you can add cocoa to milk, coffee, energy shakes, plain yogurt, and more without worrying about it tasting “bitter.”

If you want a mini-recipe that will boost your energy levels, keep you full, and pack a powerful punch of pure health, try the following mix:

1 single cup unsweetened, fat-free, and unsweetened plain yogurt (6 oz)

and add 4, 5 or 6 teaspoons of pure unsweetened cocoa powder,

along with about 1/8 teaspoon stevia (up to 1/4 teaspoon, to taste)

and 2 or more teaspoons of chia seeds

Mix well and you will have enough for two days. (That is, if you can resist the deliciousness for that long!) They keep you feeling full longer, adding calcium, complete protein, and B vitamins to the mix. They also have more magnesium and are loaded with soluble and insoluble fiber. Don’t worry about trying them either, they don’t have their own flavor, so you won’t even notice them. This mix is ​​not only delicious and super good for you, but it’s also very inexpensive to make. You can splurge on designer yogurts that are loaded with sugar… or you can mix this simple treat together and enjoy all the health benefits it delivers.

If ever there was something easy and tasty to do for your health, adding cocoa to your diet is surely at the top of the list! How will you use this to improve your health? Are you ready for more healthy tips and recipes?