Did You Say Chocolate?

Want chocolate without the guilt? Let’s take a closer look at the dark side of chocolate. Choosing the right type of chocolate is important to consider as not all chocolate is the same. First, chocolate has long been referred to as an aphrodisiac food and contains theobromines that target the central nervous system; similar to the effect of caffeine found in dark colas and black tea. 

Chocolate is made from cacao beans that are grown in southern regions of the world. The method used to process the cacao bean is what determines the bitter or sweet flavors of chocolate. Unprocessed cacao beans, contain a happy number of flavones that function similar to antioxidants. Antioxidants are abundant in raw cacao, berries, kale, and citrus fruits, and work to lower inflammation and support immune function. 

In its raw form, cacao beans are cold-pressed and ground to create a dark unsweetened cocoa powder that is great for baking your favorite chocolaty dessert or hot chocolate. Further processing of cacao beans produces a less bitter chocolate that contains about 62% or a higher amount of cacao. Overly processed cacao beans are stripped of their healthful properties, contain additives that tend to target the waistline. The end product is a sweeter chocolate, milky in color.  

In your next chocolate spree, be sure to read the nutrition facts label and reap the benefits of this wondrous bean. An ounce of dark chocolate might be just enough to satisfy your chocolaty craving. Till next time, stay healthy and be well!  

For a delicious chocolate recipe, check this out and share!  

Decadent Chocolate Cake:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/recipes/decadent-chocolate-cake/rcp-20125109

Decadent Dark Chocolate 

Number of servings: 12

Ingredients

For cake:

• 1 1/2 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons chia seeds
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 ounces unsweetened dark chocolate
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons roasted mashed yam
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup boiling water

For topping:

• 2 ounces melted dark chocolate bar
• 12 ounces strawberries, sliced thin (optional)
• 2 teaspoons of cinnamon (optional)

Directions

Heat oven to 375 F. Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray and flour lightly.

In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking soda and salt together. Set aside. In a small bowl, mix chia seeds with water and set aside to gel.

Slowly melt unsweetened dark chocolate and then allow it to cool slightly. Be careful not to allow it to harden.

In a large bowl, beat butter with yams, brown sugar, applesauce and honey for 2 minutes. Add chia gel and beat for an additional 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla and then chocolate. Gradually stir in half the flour mixture and then half the yogurt. Repeat with the remaining flour mixture and yogurt. Slowly and carefully stir in the boiling water. Pour the batter into cake pan.

Bake for about 20 minutes. Test cake with a toothpick — it should come out wet but not gooey. Do not over bake.

Cool in pan on a rack for 20 minutes. Remove cake from pan and cut into 12 pieces. Melt chocolate bar, drizzle over cake. Place on plates and garnish with strawberries and cinnamon.

Nutritional Analysis Per Serving

Serving size: 1 slice

• Calories 150
• Total fat 6 g
• Saturated fat 4 g
• Trans fat Trace
• Monounsaturated fat 0.5 g
• Cholesterol 6 mg
• Sodium 168 mg
• Total carbohydrate 24 g
• Dietary fiber 3 g
• Added sugars 13 g
• Protein 4 g

Created by the chefs at Mayo Clinic's Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center.

Resources: 

https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-flavonoids#1

https://www.familyhealthdiary.co.nz/the-health-benefits-of-cacao/

https://blog.paleohacks.com/health-benefits-of-dark-chocolate/