Enjoy Some Chocolate this Halloween

Since it's Halloween time again I thought it was the perfect moment to talk about what else, chocolate! 

I previously came across an article discussing how chocolate could help a cough?  Sounds good doesn't it? 
In three different studies cocoa was found to help to reduce inflammation and irritation.  An alkaloid called theobromine, is said to help suppress coughing by reducing the "activity of the vagus nerve".  The studies investigated the possibility of combining it with codeine to replace cough syrups.
According to Wikipedia an ounce of milk chocolate contains about 60 milligrams, but dark chocolate contains about 200 milligrams of theobromine.  Theobromine also helps to reduce blood pressure, improve blood flow and could possibly reduce bad cholesterol.

But of course there are other benefits to chocolate. I'm not talking milk chocolate or even white chocolate, but at least 70% dark chocolate.  Even though it's higher in fat (the good kind that is) regularly eating small amounts can have a variety of good benefits. It can help lower the risk of stroke, support heart health and of course boost your mood and like caffeine it acts as a stimulant. Further studies have shown that compounds found in dark chocolate can help protect your skin from the sun by improving blood flow, increase skin density and good hydration. 

Both "cacao" and "cocoa" come from the same source, the seed pods of the cacao tree. The difference between the two is how they are processed. Because cocoa is processed at a higher temperature it becomes less nutritious and sweeter than cacao.  Baking with cacao and adding your choice of a healthier sweetener ( think brown rice syrup, honey, fruit, etc...) is healthier than using cocoa powder. Another interesting thing to note is that "Dutch Processed Cocoa" is treated with alkali which actually removes all those healthy flavanols. 

When I decided to compared a 70% dark chocolate bar to a 100% unsweetened chocolate bar this is what I found.

100g, Lindt  Excellence Cocoa 70% Dark Chocolate bar had the following:

566 Calories, 41g fat, 12.2 g fiber, 5 mg Iron, 140g Calcium, 29g Sugar, 39mg Sodium, 

570mg Potassium

61-64g, Giddy Yo, 100% Cacoa unsweetened bar has the following:

200 Calories, 2g Fiber, 0g sugar, 16g Fat/Lipides, 26mg Calcium, 2.4mg iron, 208mg Potassium


The 100% chocolate is more expensive but the taste and quality are amazing. It's the only chocolate bar that I've actually found without sugar or some kind of sweetener added.

Typically I enjoy 2-3 squares at a time with a nut butter.  It's surprisingly filling.  It's also great for making my peanut butter/nut butter balls, or pretty much any chocolate creation I want to make. 

And finally one last nutritional fact about chocolate. 

Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants like catechins, flavanols, and polyphenols and some studies have suggest they might even contain more than other fruits like blueberries. 

Pretty good news, right? It all makes me wonder if you could somehow get extra bonus points for having the dark chocolate with the berries?  It might just be worth a try.....

Sources:
* naturallysavvy.com/care/chocolate-improves-cough-its-a-real-study/
**huffpost.com/entry/chocolate-health-benefits_n_1383372
.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate
medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270272.php
hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/dark-chocolate/
cnn.com/2017/10/06/health/dark-chocolate-healthy-food-drayer/index.html
verywellfit.com/health-benefits-of-chocolate-2223857

beyonddiet.com/cacao-the-chocolate-superfood-that-reduces-inflamm

tcho.com/blogs/news/8-health-benefits-of-the-theobromine-found-in-chocolate
wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_chocolate

wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobromine
chocolate.lindt.com/shop/excellence-cocoa-70
shop.giddyyoyo.com/hundo-100-bar-dark-chocolate-bar-certified-organic-62g/