There is a dark, subtle, and sublime treat out there that is not only healthy and good for you, but tastes absolutely divine. This one little snack has helped me teach my clients how to get rid of sugary and unhealthy snacks while still making them feel like they are indulging in something naughty.
Almost any woman you ask will say that chocolate is their greatest weakness. But when it comes to dark chocolate, this is one weakness you can definitely give in to.
We're talking about dark chocolate. We're talking about the really dark, almost bitter chocolates that have high amounts of cocoa in it, but not a lot of sugar. Dark chocolate is not sweet. Surprisingly though, it contains a lot of nutrients.
I usually suggest my clients to pair 1 to 2 ounces of dark chocolate with about 3 ounces of red wine. Combined, these two pack of flavonoid punch that is actually very healthy for your heart. It shown that when it person eats 1 oz of dark chocolate a day, their bad cholesterol can go down 5 to 10 points and the chances of a heart attack goes down about 5%. These may not be real high numbers for somebody with a severe risk, but it is a delicious way to start reducing the problem.
They're also really low in calories and fat. For chocolate, it is the lowest. And when you go for the even darker varieties, fat and calories goes down and down.
Can you imagine getting almost 20% of your daily dose of iron in 1 ounce of dark chocolate? It's true. Simply indulging in a little bit of dark chocolate will help increase your iron intake. This is especially important for us women especially around that time of the month when our iron needs go way up. This is also the same time when our chocolate cravings go way up.
When you eat a little bit of chocolate, you do get a little bit of caffeine. It's actually less caffeine than what you can find in a cup of weak tea. It's not enough to stimulate anyone, but it might give you a little bit of clarity if you have to do some work.
My favorite preparation of dark chocolate is actually to melt it and then dip fruit in it. So not only are you getting the health benefits of the dark chocolate, you're getting an extra boost of fruit. You can also drop some in to warm almond milk for hot chocolate. Add shavings of dark chocolate on all types of desserts, and especially yogurt for an extra little kick. And if you watch some of the cooking channels, you'll find all types of interesting creations made with chocolate.
Christina Major is the Naturopathic Doctor and Holistic Nutritionist of Crystal Holistic Health Consulting. Crystal Holistic Health helps people, especially women, who have Type II Diabetes, High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure lower their numbers, get off medication and increase their energy so they can save money, take back control of their lives and improve the health and happiness of their families. You can get a free report on health at http://www.crystalholistichealth.com/!
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