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If you are a chocolate fan, but fear the sugar and fat, fear no longer. There are healthy ways to still get your chocolate fix. In fact, dark chocolate reduces blood pressure, which in turn protects your heart and brain and it also helps to curb cravings for other sweet and salty foods. A bit of dark chocolate each day is a very healthy part of a diet. However, many have trouble eating just a bit and not overeating the indulgence. There are other ways to include dark chocolate without trying to limit yourself to two squares. One way is by blending your chocolate into a smoothie. You can add just a few squares or some dark chocolate chips. It will spread the chocolate out so it will seem more filling and satisfying. Additionally, you can blend in unsweetened cocoa powder to give it more chocolate taste without adding too many calories. If that is not sweet enough for you, try adding strawberries or cherries for a little extra flavor pop. You might also try adding a vegetable like kale that will get you an extra serving of green, while masking the taste with all of the delicious dark chocolate. Make sure you buy raw or non-Dutched cocoa powder. The process of alkalizing the powder to “dutch” it takes out the acid and therefore the health, antioxidant properties that make it healthy. Another way to enjoy your daily dose of healthy chocolate, without eating too much is to add it to your cereal. Remember that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not make it a little richer? Try putting a square or two or a few dark chocolate chips into hot oatmeal so that it melts and swirls around. You could also shave the chocolate and include it on cold cereal right along with your cut up strawberries or banana. Studies have actually shown that having a decadent “dessert for breakfast” indulgence in the morning helped those who were trying to lose weight by helping them not rebound the pounds. It reduces blood levels of ghrelin, the hunger hormone. So, really, chocolate is a helpful key to weight loss.
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