Is Eating Chocolate Good For Health? Why Is Cacao Good For You? Cocoa Butter
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People talk about chocolate a lot, some talk about its delicious flavors, and some talk about its different brands, etc.
But today in this health info article we shall talk about it differently, we mean we shall be going to focus on its health benefits or its effects on human health.
What Type Of Chocolate Is Good For You
Chocolate is one of our absolute favorite foods and in a general opinion, it's one of the most delicious foods you can eat on the planet.
First of all what kind of chocolate can you eat and what type of chocolate is good for you? The best kind is bittersweet chocolate, it's like we always say about leafy greens and other vegetables “More bitter more better”, and when it comes to chocolate it couldn't be more true, your chocolate should always be at least 72 percent cacao.
We prefer to be above 80 percent cacao though we understand that's too bitter for a lot of people but wait, chocolate has sugar, right?
Well! if possible look for chocolate that's sweetened with stevia or monk fruit lily’s is a great brand.
But if you're not able to find stevia-sweetened chocolate, that's okay, just buy the most bitter regular chocolate you can handle.
There'll be a little sugar in it, but the amount of sugar is pretty negligible and if you're only eating a little square of chocolate at night it's not a huge deal, the benefits will outweigh the drawbacks.
Is There Any Milk Chocolate We Can Eat?
Well! the truth is we haven't come across many plant paradox-approved milk chocolate for one melt chocolate is significantly higher in sugar than dark chocolate.
But even if it's Stevia sweetened melt chocolate is often made with milk that has casein a one making it terrible for your health, plus the milk will bind to the polyphenols in chocolate ruining those health benefits.
Now if you're running around southern Europe and you find a Stevia sweet and chocolate made and sold there, chances are you'll be ok, but remember you won't get the polyphenol benefits, and if you do find that chocolate write in and tell us about it.
What About White Chocolate? Is White Chocolate Bad For You?
There's exactly one place that a bar of white chocolate belongs, and that's the trashcan.
Not only is it loaded with sugar, but it's got none of the health-boosting polyphenols that dark or even milk chocolate has, plus white chocolate bars have about as much milk as milk chocolate, sometimes even more.
And if it's a one milk that just spells trouble for your health so that harmless-looking white chocolate bar is simply a lose-lose for your body, especially your gut, and in a general opinion tastes pretty lousy too.
Can We Eat Cocoa Butter?
If you can find pure raw cocoa butter, absolutely like coconut oil it's just fine to eat in moderation and adds a really interesting flavor to foods like adding just a hint of chocolate, but no heat. But if you're into baking it actually makes a pretty good butter or substitutes.
Good news if you're a vegan, chocoholic and you can cook with it like you would any other oil, but like we said, it adds a pretty interesting flavor, one you may or may not enjoy. But it's rich in some pretty interesting phytochemicals and fatty acids.
So if you're into the go-ahead and add it to your pantry, just remember when it comes to healthy fats, nothing and we mean nothing beats olive oil.
So you shouldn't use cocoa butter instead of good old extra-virgin olive oil, but you don't have to avoid it either.
What's the story with Cocoa Powder?
For some reason, people are really confused about cocoa powder, probably because there are so many different varieties on the market these days.
And when it comes to supporting your health, one type really is a cut above the rest, and one should absolutely be avoided at all costs.
What should you avoid? Sweetened cocoa powder.
You know the kind people use to make hot chocolate for one it's loaded with sugar. One popular brand has over 30 grams of sugar in just a quarter cup of powder making it almost all sugar, plus you find a cocoa mix or powdered cocoa rather than actual cocoa powder.
You're getting more than just chocolate and sugar that's because a lot of these shelf-stable mixes have a1 milk in them as well as stabilizers and other additives that are often made from ingredients like soy.
And if that weren't enough most of these mixes are made with the wrong kind of cocoa powder, Dutch cocoa you may also see it labeled as European-style cocoa, alkalis black cocoa, or Dutch-process.
Dutch Cocoa Powder
And Dutch cocoa is cocoa that's treated with an alkaline solution to neutralize its pH and mellow out its flavor. It also makes for a richer color.
Now a lot of people find Dutch cocoa to be delicious, but there's a problem that alkaline treatment does more than just change the pH of chocolate.
It zaps all the stuff that makes it healthy too. So you won't enjoy the incredible benefit that comes from heating dark chocolate.
So what's the solution natural? Cocoa powder is also known as non-Dutch cocoa. The good news is not only is the stuff even more delicious than Dutch cocoa in our opinion.
But here in the US, it's more widely available brands like Hershey's and Ghirardelli both use non-Dutch natural cocoa powder, it's a little lighter in color but doesn't be fooled by the flavor of natural cocoa powder is complex, robust, and fruity.
It's fantastic and because it hasn't been scientifically tampered with it's incredibly nutritious too.
Unsweetened cocoa powder is one of the highest polyphenol foods on the planet. Just remember chances are you're going to want to add a little bit of stevia a monk fruit or xylitol to anything you're cooking with cocoa powder on its own.
It's pretty bitter like an unsweetened chocolate bar, but it's great in a chocolate almond cake. Now before we go, let us answer one last question.
How Much Chocolate Can We Eat?
The answer is, to have a little piece every single night if you want. Just remember "more bitter more better" and if it's less than 72% cacao it's a sugar bomb and best avoided.
Because this is medically being advised and we always looking out for your healthcare.