It’s no secret that I love chocolate. And why wouldn’t I? Chocolate (the good kind) has many amazing benefits including:
…its delicious and satisfying taste
…it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant
…it contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants. Caffeine acts on dopamine and adenosine receptors in the brain, which then release their respective pleasure-producing chemicals.
…has been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by up to 10%
Chocolate comes from the dried seeds of a South American evergreen tree called Theobroma cacao which is used in making cacao and chocolate.
Chocolate makes people happy and that’s a good enough reason for me to like it. When you purchase chocolate, here are some things to look for to make sure you get the best quality:
The cheaper the price, the cheaper the chocolate – there’s a reason some candy bars are $0.79…they’re crap! Shell out more money and get the good stuff.
Read the label – good chocolate has cocoa solids (the actual chocolate) and cocoa butter (the creaminess of the chocolate) as top ingredients. Avoid chocolate with sugar as the first ingredient.
Avoid added ingredients – if there is added refined sugar, additional fat, artificial flavours and ingredients you don’t recognize, skip it.
Choose fair-trade – about 90% of the world’s cocoa (a key ingredient in chocolate) comes from small producers in third-world countries. Certifying fair-trade bodies ensure that farmers receive reliable wages for their work and get a social premium to invest back into their communities. Fair trade also encourages sustainable farming, so when purchasing a fair-trade products you’re also helping the environment.
Avoid milk – if there is dairy in chocolate it could prevent the antioxidants in chocolate from being absorbed and used by the body.
Chocolate Chip Brownie Bites
1 cup almonds
1/2 cup hazelnuts
8 large Medjool dates, pitted
2 tbsp raw cacao powder
1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips
pinch of sea salt
Combine all ingredients into food processor and process until well combined. Note – processing nuts for too long results in too much oil being extracted resulting in oily brownie bites. Shape into balls and refrigerate until ready to consume.
*References
Health Benefits of Chocolate by Mark Stibich
Guide to Buying Fair-Trade Chocolate by Kathryn Dorrell
