Chocolate Decadent Desserts

Choleate Good For Your Health

Chocolate food products are made from refined cocoa beans often consumed as candies, beverages made to flavor decadent recipes or coat various dessert confections.  The cocoa tree was cultivated more than 3.000 years ago by the Maya, Toltec and Aztec civilizations who prepared a beverage from the fruit of the cocoa bean, sometimes using it as a ceremonial drink and used the bean as currency held highly as part of their monetary system. In order to understand commercial transactions of the Aztec world the Spainards created tables to indicate trading values of specific amounts of the cocoa beans. Spain was the earliest European country to incorporate chocolate into their cuisine mixing it into chili adding more savory flavor to the dish.  “In May 1502 Christopher Columbus set out on his fourth voyage to the New World from this trip he brought back many things to Europe including gold, silver, and the plain looking cargo of beans. 

The Spaniards weren’t impressed and largely overlooked them.  At the same time no one would have predicted just how much the unassuming bean would end up transforming Spanish and European cuisine.” says National Geographic. Today chocolate is highly valued for its rich flavors and nutrition consumed worldwide as a favorite commodity. Dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health.  It is rich in antioxidants, minerals, and fiber that help protect your blood vessels.  Studies indicate chocolate can significantly improve your health, lower the risks of heart disease and reduce stress.  Dark chocolate contains a decent amount of soluble fiber and is loaded with minerals including iron, magnesium, copper, manganese. One bar of dark chocolate 6 pieces contains 270 calories, 21 grams of fat, 20 grams of carbs, 3 grams of protein.  Dark chocolate contains caffeine theobromine which can improve brain function in the short term.  It contains flavonoids which can improve blood flow to the brain and enhance cognitive function.

People who eat and drink chocolate are less likely to be depressed.  Chocolate contains a number of psychoactive ingredients which produce feelings of euphoria and a state of happiness.  “Eating dark chocolate may positively affect mood and relieve depressive symptoms, finds the new UCL led study.  Chocolate is widely reported to have mood enhancing properties and several mechanisms for a relationship between chocolate and mood have been proposed” says Neuroscience News. Eating 2 ounces of unsweetened dark chocolate once per day can have beneficial health effects. Dark chocolate contains compounds that can reduce stress and improve mood. It contains phenylethylamine (PEA) which stimulates endorphins, the body's natural pain killers and mood enhancers. While dark chocolate has many health benefits for the body it also may contain sugar and high calorie content and should be eaten in moderation. For those watching their weight unsweetened, sugar free chocolate options are readily available online or at your local retailer. 

Hershey’s special dark zero sugar candy individually wrapped 2.5-pound bag made without the sugar perfect for the holidays consumed as a delicious treat any time. Chocolate desserts can be made with sweetened or unsweetened chocolate syrups, cocoa powder, baking chocolate, and sauces. Sugar free chocolate treats benefit health while reducing stress, enhancing good mood. Decadent chocolate desserts like bon bon, lava cake, brownies, candies, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered roasted nuts, Mocha coffee, hot chocolate, chocolate covered raspberries, Hazelnut milk chocolate, chocolate with mint, chocolate truffles are among some of the favorites.  Everything's better with chocolate!

Cheers!

Patricia Lynn

Images Courtesy of Food Photographer Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash 

Chocolate Benefits Decadent Indulgence

Chocolate Promotes Good Health

Chocolate benefits are enormously promoting good health as a powerful source of antioxidants may improve blood flow reducing blood pressure. Estimates suggest one billion people consume chocolate each year as an indulgent confection and for the health benefits of flavanols  Consumers continue to indulge in chocolate are concerned with eating too many calories from sugary foods look for alternative low calorie treats.

Packaged chocolate is an affordable luxury that creates many opportunities in the industry. Perpetual dieters found sugar free chocolate options satisfying treat alternatives.  Chocolate contains a large number of flavanols, a diverse group of phytonutrients plant chemicals act as powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties promote immune function.

Flavanols in dark chocolate have been shown to promote the production of nitric oxide in the endothelium in the inner lining of blood vessels that relaxes blood vessels, improves blood flow resulting in lowering blood pressure.  Traditionally health benefits of cocoa have been associated with a high content of antioxidants. Theobromine in cocoa beans is a safer alternative compared to caffeine as a vasodilator which opens blood vessels lowering blood pressure may even help reduce high cholesterol.

Cocoa Nibs

Cocoa nibs are a very nutritious chocolate product made from crushed cocoa beans natures dark chocolate chips. Navitas Organics Cacao Nibs are 100% gently crushed cocoa beans, an excellent source of antioxidants, fiber, minerals including iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, flavanols dense in nutritional value.

Sourced from the native Peru Navitas Organics Cacao Nibs are the Criollo nutrient dense variety non-hybridized beans makeup 5% of the world's cocoa trees. It is delicious in granola, trail mix, cereals, yogurt, or eaten raw as a nutritional supplement to fortify your diet.  Raw unsweetened cacao nibs are known to be highly effective mood enhancers and energy boosters as dark chocolate relieve stress making you feel relaxed.

Dark Chocolate Boost Mood

Dark chocolate contains numerous substances that induce the production of endorphins, a group of hormones that have positive physiological effects in the brain creating feelings of pleasure mood regulation. Dark cocoa products are rich in polyphenols including flavonoids compounds that protect your heart influence antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities accounting for health promoting effects on the body.

Consuming chocolate in moderation can be beneficial, reducing risks to heart disease and improving brain function. Experts recommend eating 2 ounces of dark chocolate per day 1-2 small squares may lower the risk of heart disease and reduce the risk of mortality naturally reducing blood pressure and inflammation. Sugar free chocolate treats benefit health choose 70% dark unsweetened chocolate to obtain the most flavanols from the product.

Chocolate is high in calories reducing sugar intake may be beneficial for weight loss eating sugar free products.  Indulge in chocolate cravings anytime eating 2 ounces of special sugar free snack size chocolate bars are available with a slightly sweetened taste without the sugar. Individually wrapped bars are perfect for the office stash, lunch boxes or on the go eaten as healthy treats you can enjoy. Each 5 piece serving is 170 calories or 34 calories per snack bar. 

Cheers!

Patricia Lynn 

Images Courtesy of Shutterstock

Sugar Free Chocolate Treats Benefit Good Health

Health Benefits of Chocolate In Moderation
Sugar free Chocolate candy can be both delicious and nutritious treat to enjoy any time of year if consumed in moderation.  Eliminating sugar additives in chocolate recipes maintain a healthy diet. 

Promote weight control while still enjoying low calorie chocolate treats using nutritious ingredients for best results. follow the sugar free chocolate recipes and video tutorial below for making nutritious chocolate treats including hot mocha beverage, peanut butter cups, and chocolate bark. Delicious!

Reducing sugar intake can prevent obesity and health-related disease by eating a diet rich in whole foods.  Chocolate is clearly the prefered choice among American's who consume 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate per year accounting for 11 pounds per person.  Studies suggest American's eat an average of 22 pounds of candy each year split equally between chocolate and candy treats leading to obesity and health related complications. 

New sugar free chocolate recipes are a great alternative to satisfying your sweet tooth while reducing calories if consumed in moderation.  Making custom chocolate candy allows you to control the ingredients helping you stay on track with your diet plan.  Research indicates one typical Hershey chocolate candy bar 17 pieces, 39 grams is approximately 214 calories with 17 grams of sugar.  

Fortunately, Hershey developed sugar-free chocolate candy bars at only 35 calories per piece for people who are maintaining their diet.  Hershey sugar free chocolate candy has a decadent rich flavor without the guilt, leaving you feeling satisfied.  Unsweetened chocolate is another alternative for reducing calories while still maintaining weight control.  

Is chocolate good for you?  
Studies suggest consuming just 3 ounces of pure dark sugar free chocolate per day may reduce blood clots and promote good health, boost mood and satisfy your appetite for treats. 

Low Calorie Chocolate Mocha Beverage
Drinking beverages low in calories is one way to beat the battle of the bulge.  Eliminating sugar and heavy cream additives can greatly reduce calories by using unsweetened ingredients to create custom brews that are both nutritious and is a satisfying treat.

Sugar free chocolate mocha can be made using one cup of freshly brewed coffee with one tablespoon of unsweetened powdered dark chocolate.  One cup of coffee has 1 calorie and one tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder has only 10 calories, packed with nutritional value boosting cognitive function, mood, and physical performance.    

Find great coco products online or at your local retailer for making sugar free chocolate recipes.  Raw Organic Cocoa Nibs is chocolate in the purest form before anything else is added and is an excellent source of fiber, antioxidants, magnesium, iron.  These crunchy cocoa bits can be taken as a supplement or added to recipes for additional chocolate flavor and nutritional boost. 

Hershey has developed new sugar free chocolate products to savor the flavor without sugar additives such as chocolate syrup.  Squeeze the sugar free syrup on low calorie yogurt, fruit or into a favorite beverage for a special treat.  One serving of Hershey chocolate sugar free syrup is only 5 calories per serving. Simply delicious! 

Health Benefits of Chocolate
Chocolate is a powerful source of antioxidant compounds that inhibit cellular oxidation from occurring.  Natural cocoa beans contain phytochemicals recognized as essential nutrients are proven to have health benefits if consumed in moderation.  They help protect the body from developing heart diseases and some forms of cancer.  

Consuming dark chocolate boosts mood by stimulating the production of endorphins chemicals in the brain that creates feelings of pleasure.  

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, Chocolate consumption can improve cognitive function in the brain due to the plant-based coco substances for individuals and entire populations show promise in treating disease stimulate countrywide chocolate consumption. 

Pure unsweetened cocoa powder and dark unsweetened chocolate are the best product sources for recipes and health benefits.  According to the Libary of National, Medicine Choloate contains more phenolic antioxidants compared to other foods. Powerful phytonutrients called coco flavonoids to impact healthy blood flow throughout the body.  Coco can help protect nerves from injury, reducing inflammation within the body. (1.)

Sugar Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Creating homemade sugar-free peanut butter cups is simply delicious using wholesome ingredients right from your pantry. Enjoy a small healthy chocolate treat while staying on your diet eating in moderation.

Typically when melting chocolate professionals use a tempering process to ensure consistency of the final product resistant to developing chocolate bloom whitish streaks or spots that may form on the chocolate.  

Temper sugar free chocolate in the microwave placing chocolate in a safe microwave glass bowl.  Microwave on high for 30 seconds.  Stir with a clean spatula until completely melted. 


Homemade Healthy Peanut Butter Cups
Ingredients
5 Ounces unsweetened dark baking chocolate or unsweetened carob chips
2 tablespoon coconut oil
4-6 packets powdered Stevia sugar substitute
Peanut butter Filling
1 Cup Natural sugar free peanut butter slightly melted to soften.
1 to 2 tablespoons sugar free maple syrup
1 tablespoon coconut flour

A topping is an optional pinch of sea salt.  Watch the video below for full instructions to create home healthy sugar-free chocolate peanut butter cups.

Sugar Free Chocolate Almond Bark
Enjoy this low calorie sugar free chocolate candy packed with almonds or nuts of choice for a delicious and nutritious treat.  Create chocolate bark using wholesome ingredients cocoa, including toasted nuts and seeds to mix favorite flavor combinations.

Sugar free dark chocolate can be purchased online or in local grocery stores near you.  Creating custom chocolate bark using 90% unsweetened chocolate is a cinch to make and fun to share during the holiday seasons as gifts or deserts.
Ingredients

2 cups unsweetened chocolate chips
1 tablespoon coconut oil melted
2 tablespoons sugar-free maple syrup or 1 tablespoon Stevia sugar substitute
Optional toasted toppings of choice, Chopped almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, Chopped toasted pistachios, 

Optional dried fruit toppings, chopped cranberries, dried blueberries, chopped dried pears, raisins, chopped figs.  Fruit toppings add a festive flair to any occasion.

Directions
1.) Melt 2 cups of chopped sugar free chocolate to a glass mixing bowl.  Microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds.  Stir the chocolate with a spatula.  Place the chocolate back in the microwave for 15 seconds to melt the mixture.  Repeat the process until the chocolate is fully melted.  

If you do not have a microwave, make a double boiler by adding 1 cup of water into a saucepan.  Place the glass bowl with chocolate on top of the pan.  Bring the water up to a simmer.  Melt the chocolate on top of the double boiler then proceed with the recipe.  

2.) Add the sugar free maple syrup or Stevia sugar substitute and melted coconut oil to the melted chocolate. Mix to combine.

3.) Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray to prevent the chocolate from sticking or place a silicone Silpat on top of the cookie sheet.

4.) Pour the entire bowl of chocolate onto the prepared cookie sheet.  Spread the melted chocolate evenly.

5.) Create your own special blend of healthy toppings using toasted nuts, seeds, and dried fruits using combinations tailored to suit your taste.  While the chocolate is in the liquid state sprinkle topping mixture of choice on top of the chocolate.

6.) Place the cookie sheet into the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until completely set.

7.) Remove the sugar free chocolate bark from the refrigerator and allow the mixture to become room temperature.

8.) Break the bark into serving size pieces using a clean kitchen mallet.

Serve the bark as a gift placing several pieces into a cellophane bag tied with festive ribbon and tag for a delicious, nutritious gift.  Use sugar free chocolate bark as a decadent dessert, perfect for any holiday party or occasion.  

Sugar free chocolate can be consumed in moderation once per day for full health benefits. Creating low calorie chocolate treats is both nutritious and satisfying using wholesome ingredients packed with flavor.

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Cheers!
Patricia Lynn

Resources
Nuts.com - Nut and chocolate resource
Cocoley.com - Chocolate Molds

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