Valentine’s Day arrives with all of its hearts and love on this week. Are you ready? What are you planning to indulge in with your partner?
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Usually we enjoy a lovely dinner in, but this won’t be happening until Saturday due to my husband’s work schedule. Oh well. So, I decided to make the Detoxinista’s Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles to enjoy with a nice merlot when my hubby makes it home.
Chocolate is associated with alleviating stress, which it doesn’t really do, but it does make us females feel better (followed by the guilt for caving, right). However, there are a number of health benefits from indulging in dark chocolate.
- Dark chocolate (the really good stuff without milk solids or a lot of sugar) is high in minerals like potassium, magnesium, iron, and copper.
- Dark chocolate contains theobromine, which has been shown to harden tooth enamel and is a mild stimulant. It has been suggested that theobromine can suppress coughs.
- Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants. Antioxidants scavenge for free radicals in your body. Free radicals are produced in your body by stress and exposure to other toxins. Remember I did say “dark” chocolate with minimal sugar though.
- Dark chocolate helps to control blood sugar levels because it has a low glycemic index.
- Dark chocolate has several naturally good chemical compounds that have a positive effect on your mood and cognitive health.
Of course, what I am sure you are asking, how is dark chocolate different that “regular” milk chocolate? Dark chocolate is chocolate without milk solids. The ingredient list has very few ingredients: cacao beans, sweetener, emulsifier (usually soy lecithin, but some use a different lecithin), and some kind of flavouring like vanilla. Commercial dark chocolate is distinguished by percentage — I prefer 65-80%, but my hubby like the really dark one of about 90%.
In fact, raw chocolate is very easy to make with just few ingredients. Last year I started making my own raw chocolate, after my friend, Corinne introduced me to this velvety goodness . I use green leaf stevia or liquid yacon as my sweetener, cacao paste, cacao butter, sometimes a little coconut oil and raw vanilla bean powder. I have been known to add superfood goodies like goji berries, fruits, nuts and seeds and even food-grade essential oils or rose water. The Light Cellar provides me with my go-to shop for these supplies. If you really wanted something fun to do with your significant other on Valentine’s Day, check out Light Cellar’s CocoLove class — oops, just noticed that particular class is full, but they do offer these classes regularly.