Can chocolate really be healthy? It depends on the ingredients that go into them. Our ValenSpines chocolates are so healthy and tasty that you should eat several every day.
Our chocolates are made with coconut oil, raw cacao powder, cocoa nibs, maple syrup, sea salt and cherry extract.
There are over 1500 studies confirming the health benefits of coconut oil. Some of these studies show preventing Alzheimer’s, high blood pressure and other heart ailments, reduces inflammation and arthritis, cancer prevention and treatment, immune system boosting, improves energy and endurance, improves digestion and helps with stomach ulcers and ulcerative colitis, reduces symptoms of gall bladder disease and pancreatitis, improves skin issues, prevents gum disease and tooth decay, prevents osteoporosis, improves diabetes, helps with weight loss, improves muscle building, improves your hair, is antibacterial and antifungal, reduces damaging effects of aging, improves hormone balance, cures UTIs and kidney infections, and a bunch more.
Raw cacao and cocoa nibs are considered among the best superfoods available. They have 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries. Cacao is the highest plant based source of iron. It’s full of magnesium for a healthy heart and brain. It has more calcium than cow’s milk. It’s a natural mood elevator and anti-depressant. The American Dental Association has even been experimenting with extracting theobromine from cacao to use in toothpaste because of its effectiveness in preventing tooth decay.
Cocoa nibs have all the same benefits as the cacao powder and adds a little pleasant crunch to our chocolates.
There is some evidence that shows pure maple syrup should be consumed in small amounts. It has natural antioxidants and phytochemicals. It contains natural minerals like zinc, manganese, calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron. It also has a lower glycemic index than sugar. When consumed in small amounts as it is in our chocolates there are health benefits. Beware of over doing it though. Too much will still cause an insulin spike and is stressful to your nerve function.
Sea salt has all the natural benefits that have been removed from table salt, from processing. The cherry extract is simply for flavor and because I like it.
Here is my current recipe that we served on ValenSpines Day 2018.
I hope you enjoy these healthy Paleo Chocolates!
Recipe:
3 cups coconut oil, 3 cups raw cacao powder, 2/3 cup of maple syrup, 6 teaspoons of cherry extract, a smidgen of cocoa nibs and sea salt in each of the chocolate molds. A tutorial video can be found here.