If you are a chocolate lover like me, you?ll be happy to know that it?s possible to enjoy chocolate and still maintain a healthy diet.
In fact, the cocoa bean has considerable health benefits. ?The cocoa bean contains plant compounds called flavonoids. ?These are simply antitoxidants which help prevent cell damage and promote better health.
However, the valuable antioxidants in cocoa beans can be destroyed in the process of making chocolate. This is why all chocolate is not the same, when it comes to health benefits.
For example, milk chocolate has a lot of added sugar and other ingredients with a relatively small proportion of cocoa solids.
And, white chocolate is not even chocolate at all. ?It contains cocoa butter, but no cocoa solids (which is where the flavonoids are.
If you want to gain the nutritional benefits of chocolate, be sure to choose dark chocolate or unsweetened cocoa powder. ?These give you the most flavonoids with the leaast amount of fat and calories.
Eating dark chocolate in moderation has been shown to promote heart health. ?And, dark chocolate can help to control blood pressure, which may reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Dark chocolate and cocoa are also rich in mineral. ?They are excellent sources of magnnese and copper, and also a good source of iron and magnesium.
Buy dark chocolate that has at least 70% cocoa solids. ?You can find this information by reading the label.
In warm temperatures, a whitish color may form on the chocolate. ?This is just the cocoa butter rising to the surface. ?The chocolate is still fine to eat, though the flavor and texture might not be as nice.
Dark chocolate should be kept in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. ?Chocolate does go stale fairly quickly. ?So buy it in small quantities rather than stocking up (this will also help to keep you from overindulging).
To obtain the maximum health benefits from dark chocolate, it?s suggested that you consume one once per day. ?Don?t waste your money on cheap chocolate. ?Buy good quality chocolate and savor it slowly!
For a special treat, make a dark chocolate fondue with fresh berries, apple slices, pineapple chunks and banana pieces for dipping. ?The combination of dark chocolate and fruit gives you a super dose of anioxidants.
For a really yummy dessert, dip bananas into melted dark chocolate and roll in chopped sunflower seeds, pumpkind seeds, almonds, or walnuts. ?Freeze until ready to serve.
Don?t confuse cocoa powder with cocoa beverage mixes, which contain added sugar and other ingredients.
There are two types of cocoa powder:
Dutch-process cocoa has a milder flavor than natural cocoa. ?But the cocoa has been chemically treated in a way that destroys many of the flavonoids, thereby reducing its health benefits. ?It?s better to use natural cocoa if your want to get the heart healthy flavonoids.
Add a spoonful of cocoa to a fruit smoothie. ?This works great with bananas, strawberries, cherries or raspberries. ?Experiment to find what you like.
You can definitely enjoy chocolate as part of a well balanced and healthy diet. ?The key is to choose the most nutritious types of chocolate, and to limit your consumption to small amounts.
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Source: http://weightlossandme.com/chocolate-part-healthy-diet/
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