Did you know that chocolate is the only ingredient that is its very own food group?
Well, no, you’re right, it isn’t really—but it seems like it should be! Powerfully comforting, creamy, and delicious; how many foods come close to the heady pleasure of a piece of chocolate melting in the mouth? It’s not surprising that so many of us eat chocolate at least several times a week.
This begs the question:
Is Chocolate Good for You?
The answer is both yes and no..
Chocolate has been used for centuries to treat a myriad of maladies that include; bronchitis, sexual malaise, fatigue, hangovers, anemia, depression, memory loss, high blood pressure, poor eyesight, and more. Best of all, it also helps release that feel-good neurotransmitter—serotonin—in the brain, which is why it’s such a great comfort food.
However, eat the wrong kind of chocolate and instead of all the good stuff, you’ll just end up consuming loads of sugar, calories, and junky ingredients.
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How to Eat Chocolate Responsibly
Chocolate begins life as raw cacao (pronounced kah-kow) beans. Loaded with antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and plant phenols, cacao is a powerful superfood. However, the more processed cacao becomes —think commercially produced candy bars—the fewer healthy components remain.
Getting the most out of your chocolate fix is not as hard as you might think. Most importantly, don’t be afraid of the dark. The darker the chocolate, the more beneficial cacao it contains. For maximum health benefits, look for dark chocolate that is 75% to 85%; these percentages, found on the packaging of dark chocolate bars, refer to the percentage of cacao bean in chocolate; the higher the percentage, the darker the chocolate.
And if you truly want to get all the amazing health benefits that chocolate has to offer; go raw—or as unprocessed as possible.
Let’s eat!
If you’re looking for more fun ways to enjoy your favorite food, you’ll love the raw cacao balls. Invite some friends over and make a batch for a dark chocolate treat!
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