Hey there! What if I told you that chocolate isn’t a candy but actually a good (if enjoyed the right way 😋)!
That’s right, cacao is one of the most nutrient dense super foods on the planet, named “food of the gods” (theobroma cacao) by the Mayans 😍
It’s also no surprise that so many people are happy when they eat chocolate- it’s full of tryptophan which is a precursor to serotonin which is also known as the happy hormone 🥰
Cacao contains a plethora of antioxidants which help neutralize free radicals in the body, strengthen the immune system, and boost your heart health (they have been shown to lower blood pressure which reduces the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease ❤️).
The epicatechins increase nitric oxide and blood flow which increases athletic performance and protects the cells/increases their insulin sensitivity which is important in protecting the body from diabetes!
The cacao butter is comprised of a super healthy fatty acid called stearic acid (a saturated fat known to lower LDL cholesterol), which is incredibly stable and does not oxidize quickly, making cacao super shelf stable 🙌🏻 (not that it lasts very long in my house). It also contains a lot of oleic acid which is also found in olives and avocados! It’s also packed with vitamin E which is essential for vision, healthy skin and reproductive health!
The flavonols positively effect brain function 🧠 possibly by increasing blood flow! Cacao is also a natural stimulant that provides clean and lasting fuel throughout the day, and is so gentle that it can even be enjoyed late in the day without impairing sleep 😴
As you can see, cacao is a powerful food source that should not be skipped! But as with everything, it’s important to consume high quality chocolate that does not contain added sugar and stabilizers. It’s also important to make sure the chocolate is “bean to bar” which is an indication that the chocolate is minimally processed.
The best products are made with pure cacao and cacao butter along with non glycemic sweeteners such as erythritol, monk fruit and stevia.
My favorite is The Good Chocolate which you can learn more about here 🍫 I love that the chocolate comes in different flavors and sizes which makes them handy for families who can’t decide on one flavor and they are purse friendly 🙃
Bulletproof also makes a yummy chocolate that uses MCT oil and ghee to make the chocolate very creamy and a high fat super fuel ⛽️ They currently have 3 flavors and you can use code CURE.EATED for 10% off your order!
Other brands I like are Funky Fat Foods (love the coconut and white chocolates), Evolved Chocolate keto cups (coconut butter is my favorite)/keto bars and JoJos Chocolate (only Hawaiian and raspberry are sugar free though). Evolved chocolate also has the option to make custom bars which is fun too if you want to spice things up 😌
Or you can make your own keto vegan white chocolate bark, coconut filled eggs, or hazelnut truffles!
Another way to enjoy the benefits of cacao are by brewing a cacao drinking chocolate! I love Crio Bru to do that and you can create all types of healthy chocolate concoctions with that 😉☕️ I am a purist but my mom loves to throw in some coconut cream, butter, or MCT and stevia/vanilla! Perfect for cold weather 🥰
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