HAPPY
VALENTINES DAY!!!
If you
choose wisely, chocolate can be one of those treats that can be both
pleasurable and healthy!
Since
we have cocoa and its flavonoids to thank for the health benefits of chocolate,
it makes sense that dark chocolate with its higher cocoa content will have more
health benefits. In contrast, milk chocolate has less cocoa and therefore far
fewer flavonoid-related health benefits. The addition of milk or cream to milk
chocolate increases the amount of unhealthy saturated fat in the treat. Added
sugar and other ingredients such as caramel, jellies or creams, which often
come in those assorted chocolate boxes, further counteract any healthy
qualities of the chocolate. And what about white chocolate? Without the cocoa,
white chocolate has none of the beneficial flavonoids of its dark counterpart.
Cocoa
powder, a byproduct of cocoa beans, has surprising health benefits. Not be
confused with chocolate-powdered drink mix, cocoa powder contains no added
sugar or fat. The nutritional contents of cocoa powder are getting recognition
from doctors, scientists and dietitians for the cardiovascular and weight
maintenance advantages they have to offer. Mostly used for baking, cocoa powder
is what's left after removing cocoa butter from processing cocoa beans. One
tablespoon, or 5 g of cocoa powder, contains only 20 calories. Of those 20
calories, there are 5 calories, or 0.5 g of fat. The remaining calories consist
of 3 g of carbohydrates, 2 g of which are fiber. This amount makes cocoa powder
a significant source of fiber.
And for a balanced, chocolatey start to the morning, check out this Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Smoothie:
3/4 cup nonfat milk
1 medium banana
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 tablespoon ground flax
1 scoop (24 g) whey protein powder (optional)
