Rich Beyond Words

Would you believe there are a whole lot of chocolate health benefits growing on trees right now? The sought after cocoa bean which is indigenous to Africa and South America should be eaten in it’s naked raw form for the ultimate chocolate experience.

The taste is quite heavenly. I’m talking about the real thing which comes from the cocao plant , pronounced kuhkow and not cocoa. We are all familiar with the commercial chocolate made from roasted cacao beans. Actually the cacao bean is one of nature’s most powerful foods.

The typical cocoa which we use for baking, or use in chocolate fondue recipes has been defatted and treated with chemicals and alkaline salts.

So lets take a squizz at raw chocolate health ingredients:

Raw cocoa is abundant in flavanoids. What the heck is a flavanoid you be asking now. No it’s not an added flavorant , it’s a class of phyto chemicals called polyphenols. Thousands of flavanoids exist in ample amounts in plant based foods. Latest studies reveal that some flavanoids protect from certain diseases, especially heart diseases.

Potent antioxidants – more than in red wine, We all know that sipping too much red wine can get you into trouble! So rather nibble on chocolate. Antoxidants significantly reduce the risk of heart attack.

Copper- a lot of women have a copper deficiency. A good source of copper is in liver. Yuck – I’d rather eat chocolate.

Phenylethylamine followed closely by theobromo which is the magic ingredient of lifting depressions.

Raw chocolate also has small amounts of straight caffeine, great for a little lift me up snack.

Magnesium which is also credited for giving one those euphoric feelings when eating chocolate. If you’re a woman then take note that magnesium levels drop during menstruation so it’s a good time to tuck into chocolate.

Serotonin and tyramine are also in raw chocolate, which have a gentle calming effect.

So when you get the blues eat chocolate – no wonder it’s called a comfort food because it has exactly that ability – to comfort. But I must warn you dear reader that only raw chocolate has these chocolate health qualities. If commercial chocolate lures you and you like to munch a lot of it, then don’t expect to have to have these astounding chocolate health affects.

Raw chocolate fondue recipe

Half a cup of almond butter
Half a cup of raw cocoa nibs
1 cup of agave nectar
Inch of a vanilla bean
Half a teaspoon of salt

First mix the almond butter and raw cocoa nibs together. Hand mixing works just fine.
Then add the agave nectar.
Cut the inch of vanilla bean length ways and scrape out the seeds.
Add the vanilla and salt.
Fold into the mixture and keep mixing till you have a creamy consistency.

Strawberries and other fruit chunks can de dipped into the divine chocolate mixture.
Great fun for the family – and radiate in a chocolate health aura!

I purchase my chocolate health products from Raw Food World