If you were to ask anyone outside of a chocolate shop, who had just bought some dark chocolate, he or she would say that it didn't have milk in it and contained more than 60% chocolate.
Now, that is hardly a comprehensive definition, is it? So we are now looking for chocolate That Is Good For You, rather than any old chocolate, but what are the other 40% of ingredients? Does anyone really know? I was really surprised at the lack of knowledge shown by people on the subject of healthy chocolate.
First of all, it is necessary to explain a bit of history.
When the Spanish went to Latin America in the 16th century they discovered the cocoa plant.
The Aztecs already knew of the health benefits and considered the cocoa seed as holy.
So it was the Spanish who actually brought chocolate to the European mainland.
A cocoa seed looks like a large lemon in shape and fits into the palm of a human hand.
When the seed is ground up, it becomes a fine powder with a fat like substance called coco butter.
Both these ingredients are necessary when referring to true dark chocolate and these two ingredients coupled together with cane sugar make fine dark chocolate.
Nothing more, nothing less and you must keep to those three ingredients only.
The last time you went to the grocers and bought chocolate, did you look at the packaging to see the list of ingredients.
Were there two ingredients and a little bit of sugar cane added for sweetness? The next time you go, you will be surprised to see at least ten different ingredients.
Educating yourself about chocolate means that you are interested in taking part in your health care and nutrition.
Healthy dark chocolate that is good for you, can be described as an extremely nutritious whole food.
When the other ingredients are added and the chocolate is heat processed, this whole food looses it's status and just becomes a candy bar, with little or no benefits to the consumer.
The fewer the ingredients and the higher level of unprocessed chocolate powder, would normally mean a product is more healthy.
Also milk chocolate has little or no health value whatsoever and milk fats or oils add to the calories.
The world is definitely changing from milk to dark chocolate gradually over time.
The Natural cocoa butter, lets you enjoy the health value of chocolate and the sweetness should only come from cane sugar and not from corn or glucose syrup.
The best chocolates arguably come from Europe and famous Belgian chocolates are made to be consumed rapidly as there are no preservatives and no altered ingredients.
Dark chocolate is a simple product, and as I stated earlier, the fewer added ingredients, the healthier it is.
Yes, it takes some time to get used to, if you have only consumed milk chocolate previously.
Dark chocolate is an acquired taste and may or may not be a favourite of yours immediately, when you first try it.
The beneficial effects of dark chocolate are great for the human body, when they are taken in their natural form.
So the next time you go to the grocery store or supermarket, take a look at the bars of dark chocolate that are on display and you will see the unhealthy ingredients that they put into each and every bar.
Something as natural as unprocessed chocolate, has been around since the beginning of time and is wonder of nature and very healthy and to be consumed to one's heart's content.
In Conclusion Be careful when choosing to purchase dark chocolate and only consume the very finest dark healthy chocolate available.
It may cost you more money, but the health benefits are worth the investment and the time spent choosing wisely.
Not only do you want value for money but you also should consider what any ingredients are doing to your body on a regular basis, whether we are referring to chocolate that is good for you or any type of food you choose.
Now, that is hardly a comprehensive definition, is it? So we are now looking for chocolate That Is Good For You, rather than any old chocolate, but what are the other 40% of ingredients? Does anyone really know? I was really surprised at the lack of knowledge shown by people on the subject of healthy chocolate.
First of all, it is necessary to explain a bit of history.
When the Spanish went to Latin America in the 16th century they discovered the cocoa plant.
The Aztecs already knew of the health benefits and considered the cocoa seed as holy.
So it was the Spanish who actually brought chocolate to the European mainland.
A cocoa seed looks like a large lemon in shape and fits into the palm of a human hand.
When the seed is ground up, it becomes a fine powder with a fat like substance called coco butter.
Both these ingredients are necessary when referring to true dark chocolate and these two ingredients coupled together with cane sugar make fine dark chocolate.
Nothing more, nothing less and you must keep to those three ingredients only.
The last time you went to the grocers and bought chocolate, did you look at the packaging to see the list of ingredients.
Were there two ingredients and a little bit of sugar cane added for sweetness? The next time you go, you will be surprised to see at least ten different ingredients.
Educating yourself about chocolate means that you are interested in taking part in your health care and nutrition.
Healthy dark chocolate that is good for you, can be described as an extremely nutritious whole food.
When the other ingredients are added and the chocolate is heat processed, this whole food looses it's status and just becomes a candy bar, with little or no benefits to the consumer.
The fewer the ingredients and the higher level of unprocessed chocolate powder, would normally mean a product is more healthy.
Also milk chocolate has little or no health value whatsoever and milk fats or oils add to the calories.
The world is definitely changing from milk to dark chocolate gradually over time.
The Natural cocoa butter, lets you enjoy the health value of chocolate and the sweetness should only come from cane sugar and not from corn or glucose syrup.
The best chocolates arguably come from Europe and famous Belgian chocolates are made to be consumed rapidly as there are no preservatives and no altered ingredients.
Dark chocolate is a simple product, and as I stated earlier, the fewer added ingredients, the healthier it is.
Yes, it takes some time to get used to, if you have only consumed milk chocolate previously.
Dark chocolate is an acquired taste and may or may not be a favourite of yours immediately, when you first try it.
The beneficial effects of dark chocolate are great for the human body, when they are taken in their natural form.
So the next time you go to the grocery store or supermarket, take a look at the bars of dark chocolate that are on display and you will see the unhealthy ingredients that they put into each and every bar.
Something as natural as unprocessed chocolate, has been around since the beginning of time and is wonder of nature and very healthy and to be consumed to one's heart's content.
In Conclusion Be careful when choosing to purchase dark chocolate and only consume the very finest dark healthy chocolate available.
It may cost you more money, but the health benefits are worth the investment and the time spent choosing wisely.
Not only do you want value for money but you also should consider what any ingredients are doing to your body on a regular basis, whether we are referring to chocolate that is good for you or any type of food you choose.