Naked Chocolate: A Valentine's Treat!

Hi, I'm Nina and I'm a chocoholic. I'm also a health counselor. As a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I've come to understand the many reasons why chocolate is something that so many of us crave. Because....we do crave it right? We crave it. We gift it. We ration it (among family members keeping enough aside for ourselves). We fantasize about it. We worry about whether we have any left in our secret stash. (I'm not alone here, am I?) And...best of all, we justify it. It's an antioxidant, isn't it?

Much of the latest nutrition information points to the benefits of chocolate, specifically dark chocolate, as it is a flavonoid-rich food. Some reports even state that dark chocolate contains more flavonoids than green tea, blueberries and red wine. Flavonoids have powerful antioxidant effects that can keep cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels, reduce the risk of blood clots, and slow down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries. So what's not to love about chocolate? Experts say to enjoy dark chocolate in moderation for its health benefits and its wonderful taste. Moderation is important because of the added sugar and extra calories it can add to a diet.

So fellow chocoholics, would you like to know about a chocolate that you may eat in great abundance without guilt, shame or weight gain? When you eat NAKED chocolate, otherwise known as raw CACAO, you can do just that. All chocolate is derived from the cacao ("kah-cow") bean which grows on the cacao tree. Raw cacao is a natural and healthy food that one can enjoy in its natural, unprocessed state and reap many health benefits, including weight loss. You can make delicious treats using the whole cacao bean, raw cacao nibs, or raw cacao powder, hold the refined sugar and butter please.

Research indicates that raw cacao is the highest antioxidant whole food known. Raw cacao tops the ORAC Values (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) Chart ahead of each of the top foods that are known for their ability to subdue oxygen free radicals.

If that fact alone does not provide reason enough to check out naked chocolate, here is some more information about why cacao is the nutritious way to satisfy your chocolate cravings.
• Cacao provides more magnesium than almost any other food, and being that the American diet is greatly deficient in magnesium, it is no surprise we crave chocolate like we do.
• Cacao provides more chromium than almost any other food. Chromium is the trace mineral we are most missing in our diets, and it is important because it helps control blood sugar.
• Cacao contains theobromine which kills strep bacteria.
• Cacao's high magnesium content makes it a natural laxative.
• The amino acid tryptophan is found naturally in cacao. Tryptophan enhances relaxation and promotes better sleep
• Benefits of cacao across the generations: it sparks the imagination in children of all ages; for the elderly it is the best food for bone mass as the magnesium in cacao improves calcium absorption; the psychoactive properties for men and women are different...women feel a satisfaction and for men it can be transformational whether in mood, creative energy or outlook.

Cacao facts:
• Cacao has only a nominal amount of caffeine in its raw state. Heating cacao exacerbates this small amount of caffeine and makes it activated.
• Also, sometimes guarana and kola nuts are mixed with cacao for commercial chocolate and those can impart additional caffeine in modern chocolate.
• Cacao can only be grown in an intact rain forest. It is the number one economic powerhouse of rain forests to the point that cacao 'production' is pushing the loggers out of the rain forest....that's a big deal.

So where can you find raw cacao beans or cacao nibs? You can visit a health food store or have them delivered to your door by ordering online. Try www.organicconnection.net or www.rawfood.com

And what do you do with cacao? Personally, I enjoy cacao nibs mixed with some almond milk and shredded, unsulphured coconut as a quick nutritious snack. It's my version of an ALMOND JOY.

Here is a recipe for a decadent yet healthful cacao treat.
Dark Chocolate Sauce
4 heaped tablespoons of cacao powder (crushed cacao beans/nibs)
3 tablespoons of agave nectar
1 teaspoon of coconut oil

Mix all the ingredients together to form a paste. If you need it runnier, add more agave. If you need it a touch creamier, add some more coconut oil. Then drizzle the sauce over some fresh fruit or other favorite treat.

While I wouldn't recommend giving your honey a plastic tub of raw cacao nibs for Valentine's Day, I do encourage you to embrace the concept of doing something great for your health by satisfying at least some of your chocolate cravings with naked chocolate. Remember your dark chocolate bars are made with cocoa ('ko-ko") which is processed (not raw) and not even in the same league, nutritionally, as cacao ("kah-cow").

For more information on cacao and more recipes, check out raw foodist David Wolfe's book Naked Chocolate at www.rawfood.com or at www.amazon.com.

For information on health and lifestyle counseling with Nina Stout, please check out www.ninastoutwellness.com or call to set up a free introductory appointment 203.426.6375.