Showing posts with label There. Show all posts
Showing posts with label There. Show all posts

Are There Any Health Benefits To Eating Chocolate?

Women (and men) across the world want to know - are there any health benefits to eating chocolate? Extremely popular with people across the world, chocolate is creamy, decadent, and easily mixed into milk and made into hot chocolate easily. In fact, it is one of the world's most popular foods. When research came out that chocolate may actually be good for you, consumers rushed to find out more. It turns out that the type and amount that you consume is critical in deciding overall health benefits.

Health Benefits

Chocolate is derived from the cocoa bean. Cocoa beans are known for having high levels of flavanols and antioxidants. Flavanols are known for being able to fight free radical damage from outside sources like pollution, certain diseases, and bad nutrition. Flavanols also help to improve vascular health by lowering blood pressure, promoting blood flow to the brain, and improving overall circulation in the body. Antioxidants also help to protect the body from free radical damage from environmental pollutants. It is important to note that cocoa beans and chocolate are not the only source of antioxidants and flavanols for our diets. Many fruits and vegetables also contain high levels of each.

Choose Wisely

When eating chocolate for good health, it is also important to remember that the type and quantity of chocolate you are eating is very important. Chocolate laced with high fat additives and lots of sugar is not necessarily good for you. The best choice seems to come from dark chocolate that is minimally processed by manufacturers. White chocolate and milk chocolate can contain high levels of sugar and added fats that hinder the good nutritional benefits of eating chocolate.

Eating small amounts is also important. One ounce a few times a week seems to be the optimal amount to achieving health benefits. Scientists and nutritionists seem to be encouraged that drinking a glass of red wine with one ounce of dark chocolate a few times a week can help you reach optimum health benefits from each.

However you choose to eat chocolate, it is important to remember that dark chocolate that is minimally processed is the best choice if you want to get the most health benefits. Dark chocolate does not loose the high levels of flavanols or antioxidants that can improve health and reduce overall damage to the body from outside toxins in the environment. What's your favorite way to eat chocolate?

Get the best nutrition chocolate can offer with raw organic cacao powder from ViJuvenate.


Original article

Is There a Good Sugar Free Cocoa Drink?

Being diabetics, we went searching for a sugar free chocolate flavored drink that would fit within a diabetic's diet. We spent quite a bit of time looking at labels in local grocery stores. We're trying to live by the principal that if you can't pronounce an ingredient, you probably should not be eating or drinking that product. We thought that this would be fairly easy to do. We were wrong. Even the number 1 brand states in the ingredient list that it has cocoa processed with alkali.

We were looking for a cocoa drink because of the antioxidants found naturally in cocoa. While it's true that chocolate is made from cocoa, almost every chocolate product is has more sugar than cocoa. We also wanted a drink low in calories and low in carbohydrates.

The other problem is that every cocoa drink found on the grocery shelves requires sugar, honey or some other sweetener before you can drink it.

Happily, there is an internet. We must have looked at 50 web sites and tried looking at ingredient lists for cocoa drinks. A few hours of Google searching later, we found something we wanted to try. We placed our order and waited.

It's not often that we find a food that is both good and good for you, especially for diabetics. Well, we found one we really like. It's called Crio Bru and it's made from 100% roasted cocoa beans. The great news is that cocoa beans have several health benefits, all of which are preserved when roasted and brewed into a delicious sugar free chocolate flavored drink.

Low Calorie -Only 10 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams sugar and 0 milligrams sodium per 6 oz. Cup. These numbers are for just the brewed cocoa itself. Many people add sugar, honey and/or creamer or milk. Naturally, this adds to the calories.
Antioxidants - I've learned that raw cocoa beans, by weight, have more antioxidants than almost any food in the world, even after being roasted and brewed, Antioxidants help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals thus helping your immune systems. Brewed cocoa beans are also 100% gluten free.
Carbohydrates - A 6 oz serving of brewed cocoa beans contains only 1.5 grams of carbohydrates. For us diabetics, this is a real treat. Almost no carbs with a great chocolate taste.

As we said earlier, it is very easy to brew. Just brew it exactly the same way you brew your coffee. It will take a little longer to brew. You can use a permanent filter or paper filters, both work very well. To brew it thicker and richer, think hotter and longer. Set your auto-drip to brew slowly or brew it longer in a French Press. We like it "black" but many of our friends add cream and honey or sugar. Either way, it's very good. For many years, we drank only coffee in the mornings. Now, we substitute brewed cocoa beans 2 or 3 days a week. Even better, you can get this product in 6 flavors,

As I write this, I'm brewing a very small amount of Vega Real flavor. No, it's not to drink. I'm making chocolate cupcakes with it. I'll use both the brewed liquid and some of the grounds. There are many other ways to cook and bake with roasted and brewed cocoa beans or the grounds.

In conclusion, there are very few chocolate flavored foods that fit comfortably within a diabetic's diet. Most diabetics have to severely limit our chocolate. Here is one of a very few exceptions I've found that is 100% pure food, no chemicals, no additives, no whatever. Be careful as this product is very, very good. If you order it once, you will be back for more.

Tom and Nancy Cory are the authors and provide information related to living with diabetes. This brewed cocoa bean drink is very good. They have a blog at http://tinyurl.com/brewed-cocoa-beans


Original article

Guess What? There Is a New Healthy Dark Chocolate Drink - Yum!

About 14 months ago my daughter informed me that she and her husband where having another child. She is 35 years of age and we did not expect this blessing. My new grandson was born on the 19th of October and Jaxon is my second grandson. My last goals in life was to see my grandson Ben graduate from college. Now I want to see Jaxon graduate, too. I will now need an extra 24 years of life to reach this goal. Yes I can get run over by a bus tomorrow but I need to do my part and stay healthy so I will reach my goal. I don't drink, smoke or do drugs. My BP is 138/72, my L.D.L. is great, my heart is strong, my lungs are clear, I'm 20 pounds overweight and my blood sugar is slightly higher than normal. My doctor told me loss 20 pounds and when I do I am positive the my blood sugar will not be a problem. I have a wish to help people who want to stay healthy. The American diet is deplorable mostly because of lobbyists, the US Government interference, fast food, trans-fatty acids, and high fructose corn syrup. My niece is blind or correctly stated visually impaired because of diabetes, my oldest son is type 1 diabetic.

My sister 's health is poor because of diabetes and heart disease, and my grandfather had his legs amputated because of diabetes before he died from that progressive disease. My three closet friends died in their 50s, two from heart attacks and one from A.L.S. Out of the three David was the only lucky one. He was watching the Comedy Channel one night with his wife, started laughing hysterically and then suddenly died at age 59. My close friend with A.L.S. died a miserable death at age 56. The other friend had a major drinking problem, smoked 2 packs a day and developed cancer; died in his sleep at age 54. Dying is inevitable; it is as natural as birth. It is how we die that's important. I refuse to lie in a hospital bed for months and put that terrible burden on my children. So my choice is working on staying healthy avoiding things that are known to cause degenerative diseases and to share my findings and success with others. A few weeks ago we met to a gentleman that had developed new products that fits my needs perfectly. These products tastes wonderful, makes one feel good and have more nutritional value than anyone could dream. Just imagine enjoying chocolate without guilt, no calories, almost no fat, no caffeine, no gluten, no dairy, no trans-fats, no corn syrup, no sodium, no sugar and no soy.

Let us share why we are so enthused about this new series of products. As we mentioned before there are almost no calories, almost no fat or carbohydrates, no caffeine, no gluten, no dairy, no trans-fats, no corn syrup, no sodium, no sugar and no soy. The point is that everyone can use this product and not concern themselves with that dietary or cardiac condition. Side bar: No one should ever ingest; trans fats and high fructose corn syrup.

Fact: Not many people would drink roasted and brewed cacao beans if it did not taste good. This beverage is incredibly tasty. Most who try it love the taste hot or cold. For those few that prefer the lighter taste of mild chocolate a pinch of stevia and some almond milk will fit that lighter taste. News! We found a new product today in the grocery store, coconut milk coffee creamers. All ingredients are natural and/or organic.

Note: We strongly suggest watch the video on the brewing of cacao beans for the best results. Roasted and brewed cacao beans are brewed like coffee but there are differences. Don't put your already brewed or used grounds down the garbage disposal! No, do not put them in your compost pile. OK, so what is done with them? Cook with the ground cocoa beans. Great cooks add those "already brewed" roasted and brewed cacao beans grounds to their cooking and baking recipes. There are incredible recipes using brewed roasted and brewed cacao beans grounds for taste sensations like brownies and Oatmeal that all youngsters will love.

This is what is really important. The ancient Mayan culture knew the cacao bean is one of nature's perfect foods. Cacao is the base ingredient to chocolate and most of us have heard about the benefits of dark chocolate offering high antioxidant value, essential mineral benefits and natural energy. Today dietary professionals refer to healthy dark chocolate as a super food and these dietary pros suggest 70% dark chocolate is a part of a healthy diet. This is why! Just 10 calories and 1.5g carbohydrates per serving, it helps curb appetite, promote weight loss. It has a very safe natural stimulant, not caffeine but gives one a noticeable increase in energy without feeling nervous or jittery; it is long-lasting and non-addictive. Cocoa (or cacao) has the highest concentration of antioxidants of any food in the world and has an abundance of minerals or trace elements helping the immune system, liver, pancreas and skin, also helps prevents colds. It is known to stabilizes blood sugar levels, supports the heart, aids digestion, balances brain chemistry and builds strong bones. Lastly roasted and brewed cacao beans have natural plant chemicals that makes one feel great, increase focus, reduce stress and even helps us sleep better.

What we now know, roasted and brewed cacao beans tastes good, has no waste, if desired the entire product is used. It is free of gluten, fats, dairy, caffeine, sugar and soy. Roasted and brewed cacao beans has many trace elements, phytochemicals, endorphins, antioxidants, theobromine, and natural fat blockers. So adding roasted and brewed cacao beans, the healthy chocolate drink and other cacao beans products to the family diet will help everyone take advantage of the many nutrients and benefits natural to the cacao bean, enabling the entire family to lead a healthier and happier life.

Of course we want to sell products that is why we are in business but we understand that customer service is the most important product we have. For our customers we offer information about the cacao and coffees and their health benefits, a lot of it; the information we offer is simplified so no one has to have a science degree to understand. Come visit us, http://www.smallbatchroasters.com/. The site is a good read. Book Mark it, you will want to return. Register while at Small Batch Roasters for a free eBook by our Master Chef Cacao the eBook has very interesting, tasty and healthy recipes. Thank you.


Original article

Is There Anything Better Than Chocolate? Add PB for Chocolate Chip-Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies!

Do you remember the old Whoopie Pies of your childhood? When I was growing up in the 40s and 50s, I loved them in Devil's Food with a creamy vanilla filling. I grew up next door to my elderly grandparents. They never had a driver's license or a car and frankly, they didn't need one. Although we lived in the country, their groceries were delivered once a month by 'The Peddler'. I would write out my grandparents grocery list and they mailed it to the Peddler. The next week he and his wife came by in what I believe was an old school bus painted blue and delivered the order. They always had extras on the bus and my sister and I would always run out to buy us each a whoopie pie. A once a month treat that was sooo good! Since chocolate and peanut butter are two of our favorite things, this recipe combines the two into Chocolate Chip-Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies. They are yummy although it is hard to compete with a childhood memory!

CHOCOLATE CHIP-PEANUT BUTTER WHOOPIE PIES
1 pkg (12-oz) chocolate chips
2 tbsp milk
1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup baking cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
Filling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Measure out 1/4 cup of the chocolate chips and set aside.

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 cup of the chocolate pieces and the 2 tablespoons of milk. Microwave on medium power for a minute or so until melted; stir once to blend and set aside.

In mixer bowl, beat the butter and peanut butter with electric mixer until combined. Add sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; beat to combine. Add eggs, the half cup of milk, vanilla extract, and the melted chocolate. Beat mixture until combined. Beat in the cocoa and flours until combined. Stir in the rest of the chocolate chips.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls 2-inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips over the cookies. Bake 9 minutes or until the tops are set; do not overbake. Allow to cool on the cookie sheets for 1 minute then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

To assemble, spread filling on the flat side of half the cookies then top with the other half of cookies.

FILLING:
1 cup softened butter
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup marshmallow cream
2 cups powdered sugar

Combine the ingredients in a bowl and beat with electric mixer until combined. Add up to 2 tablespoons milk to thin to spreading consistency, if needed. Use to fill the cookies above.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/ For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/


Original article