Tuesday Topic: Why Dark Chocolate?

I decided to replace regular chocolate with dark chocolate in my recipes. Why? Dark chocolate has recently been discovered to have a number of healthy benefits.

We’ve all heard the good news: eating dark chocolate daily is good for your heart, boosts brain power, and may even help you shed some pounds.

But slow down. While it can be a superfood, not all chocolate is created equal.

Cacao and cocoa are one in the same, and this little bean is responsible for the health benefits that are found in chocolate,” explains Keri Glassman, nutritionist and founder of Nutritious Life. “But the more processed that little bean is, the more nutrition is lost.”

So be sure to buy good quality dark chocolate. In fact, start your morning with dark chocolate and you will start feeling amazing….Milk chocolate, white chocolate may taste better compared to dark chocolate but not healthy at all. And believe me or not it is so easy to replace dark chocolate with other ordinary chocolates. In my baking, for instance, for cookies, brownies, cake, bars, pudding and more, I use dark chocolate these days and the recipes taste better than before, more intense chocolate flavor with healthy touch to my chocolate craving desserts. I buy dark chocolate bar and 100% cocoa powder and if possible organic. Even as a topping on yogurt, oatmeal or other meal, use dark chocolate to boost your meal nutrition.

dark chocolate photo

Research has proven that dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health.Made from the seed of the cocoa tree, it is one of the best sources of antioxidants on the planet.Studies show that dark chocolate (not the sugary crap) can improve health and lower the risk of heart disease.

So what exactly you should be looking at when buying dark chocolate? If you buy quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (A 100 gram bar of dark chocolate with 70-85%) , then it is actually quite nutritious. It contains a decent amount of soluble fiber and is loaded with minerals.

dark chocolate photo

Dark Chocoalte Benefits:

Some of the benefits of dark chocolate are: Dark Chocolate is a Powerful Source of Antioxidants, May Improve Blood Flow and Lower Blood Pressure, Raises HDL and Protects LDL Against Oxidation, May Lower The Risk of Cardiovascular Disease, May Protect Your Skin Against The Sun, May Improve Brain Function and more.

So I hope I have convinced you to use dark chocolate instead of those sugary ordinary chocolates. And it is not a hard task at all. When you start preparing recipes, think how can you modify to make it healthier and yet tasty. I have done many transitions successfully in my kitchen and I feel so proud when I do any good changes in my kitchen to make my family’s overall health better.

dark chocolate photo