Well, once again it’s time for What’s On the MENU MONDAY! And since we also are approaching Valentine’s Day — what better food to honor this month than Chocolate!
Now, we’re all familiar with the downright fabulous taste, flavor and texture of this rich, sweet and delicious culinary delight. There just aren’t many people in this world who don’t appreciate this particular confection and all its satisfying qualities! But, chocolate is much more than a pretty face! In addition to simply tasting great, it offers significant nutritional value and health benefits as well!
You see, chocolate is derived from the cacao bean — which in its natural state has a very chalky and bitter taste. So of course, sugar, butter and milk are added to give us the sweet mixture with which we are familiar. And this process produces either milk or dark chocolate depending upon the amount of cacao that is present in the final product. It’s the dark chocolate, however, that packs the biggest health punch.
In fact, nutritionists recommend we stick to chocolate that has a cacao content of at least 30 percent. And, if we do, what can that mean for our emotional and physical well-being??
To start, one or two servings of dark chocolate each week can decrease our risk for heart failure by as much as one third. And thanks to the flavonoids found in cacao (which are antioxidant compounds called flavanols) a small piece a day can increase the flexibility of arteries and veins, which over time can lower our blood pressure and reduce our risk of heart attack and stroke by 39 percent!
Chocolate with a high flavanol content also can increase nitric oxide production, which helps control insulin sensitivity. It can help protect our skin from the damaging rays of the sun. And, it can boost blood flow to the brain which can improve performance and short-term alertness and awareness.
The magnesium found in chocolate — also known as the anti-stress mineral– can help reduce stress hormone levels. And the chemical theobromine, which is responsible for chocolate’s “feel good” effect, also can quiet a cough AND increase our energy.
Moreover, dark chocolate also produces a feeling of satiety that can decrease our cravings for sweet, fatty and salty foods — and because flavanols bind to a protein that aids digestion in the small intestine, dark chocolate also has the ability to prevent or reduce occasional diarrhea!
Now, we could stop here — but it is, after all, Valentine’s Day! So let’s go ahead and up the ante by adding a strawberry or two!
Strawberries, which are the only fruit with their seeds on the outside, are one of the most concentrated sources of vitamin C and fiber in the fruit world. Indeed, one cup of strawberries provides more than 100 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C! One cup of whole strawberries also is loaded with folate, vitamin A, calcium, iron and potassium — and only has 46 calories to boot!
So, why not melt some dark chocolate in a pot on the stove over low heat. Allow it cool just a bit, and then dip some delicious, ripe strawberries into the mixture. Set the strawberries aside on a sheet of wax paper to harden. Arrange on a beautiful plate and enjoy a delicious, sweet, guilt-free and surprisingly healthy dessert!
And by the way, the strawberry is a member of the Rose Family. Now, how perfect is that for Valentine’s Day!!
Thanks everyone and until next time!
TAKE THE COURSE AND TAKE CHARGE
Image courtesy of Mister GC at Freedigitalphotos.net
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