One of my favorite ingredients, chocolate has a way of
being there for us whether we’ve had a stressful day, an insane headache, or a
run of the mill sweet tooth craving.
So how can something that’s lifted our spirits time and time again have
such a bad reputation? Well, the
problem isn’t in the cocoa, which happens to be loaded with lots of vitamins,
minerals, and antioxidants that help lower blood pressure and protect from
heart disease. The culprits are the cream, sugar, caramel, and nougat found in
many chocolate bars.
Ounce for ounce, dark and milk chocolate have about 150
calories and 9 grams of fat each but dark chocolate has more nutrients,
specifically antioxidants, so it’s healthier overall. Keep in mind that dark chocolate is still high in calories
and should be consumed in moderation.
If you prefer sweet, look for dark chocolate with a 60-70% cacao
content. Anything higher is going
to have a bitter aftertaste but a lower sugar content. Typically, higher-end
chocolates will advertise their cacao percentage and are usually not
alkalized. For cacao content on a
variety of chocolates click here.
Personally, I'm a fan of Ghirardelli's line of dark chocolates with high cacao percentages.
It's important to avoid chocolate that has been Dutch-processed
or alkalized. This process makes
the chocolate darker and gives it a milder flavor but it also destroys most of
the flavonoids, stripping the dark chocolate of its healthy components. Hershey’s “Special Dark” chocolate is
alkalized and no better for you than Hershey’s milk chocolate so stop fooling
yourself. It will say in the
ingredients if it has been alkalized.
Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder is natural and not Dutch-processed so
I approve of it.
 |
| Natural vs Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder |
Chocolate makes us feel better because it contains
serotonin, a natural anti-depressant.
It also stimulates endorphin production which leaves us feeling warm
and tingly. So the next time
you’re feeling blue, snack on a couple squares of high quality dark chocolate,
a natural pick-me-up.
Check out my guest post on Kitchen Tested for a decadent recipe for spiced dark hot cocoa.
Check out my guest post on Kitchen Tested for a decadent recipe for spiced dark hot cocoa.
Avital,
ReplyDeleteA very nice post. I myself am a chocolate lover and find the health benefits an added bonus. I try to stick to at least 70% and limit myself (or at least try) to a few square a day.
Thanks for sharing,
Michelle
I am always thrilled to read how chocolate has health benefits. My favorite is Dagoba's Xocolatl (spiced chocolate). I eat 1-2 squares any day I've got the cravings. :)
ReplyDeleteawesome, great job-looks delicious!
ReplyDelete