There is no question, many of us ladies have a love affair with chocolate. However, there is no need to worry about cheating on your diet if you are straying in a healthy way.
According to the Cleveland Clinic your heart won’t get broken if you're indulging in this rich, dark treat. “Chocolate has gotten a lot of media coverage in recent years because it's believed that it may help protect your cardiovascular system. The reasoning being that the cocoa bean is rich in a class of plant nutrients called flavonoids.”
The problem that spoils the good-for-you flavanols is when chocolate is over-processed said the clinic.
“The good news is that most major chocolate manufacturers are looking for ways to keep the flavanols in their processed chocolates. But for now, your best choices are likely dark chocolate over milk chocolate (especially milk chocolate that is loaded with other fats and sugars) and cocoa powder that has not undergone Dutch processing (cocoa that is treated with an alkali to neutralize its natural acidity).”
WomensHealthMag.com agrees, saying, “Stick to healthy chocolate with at least 70 percent cacao (or cocoa, which is cacao in its roasted, ground form). As long as the content is that high, says Mary Engler, Ph.D., a professor of physiological nursing at the University of California at San Francisco, you can reap the benefits from eating only small amounts.”
Here are some delectable choices in various dessert forms. All of these are portion controlled and under 150 calories.
Enjoy an entire tin of sweetriot’s real cacao nibs covered in 65 percent dark chocolate. These cacao nibs are all natural, GMO-free, dairy-free, kosher and gluten-free. The entire tin is only 140 calories, 14 grams of carbs, 7 grams of sugar, 12 grams of fat and 2 grams of protein.
It is not a sin to indulge in Hail Merry’s Choco Macaroons which are gluten- and dairy-free. They also come in a Perfect Portion Control Shift Snack Pack.
The Choco Macaroons are made with organic maple syrup, organic shredded coconut, Fair trade dark cocoa, organic extra virgin coconut oil, organic Madagascar bourbon vanilla and sea salt.
Each Shift Snack Pack is only 130 calories, 11 grams of fat, 10 grams of carbs, 5 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.
You’ll do more than wink at your chocolate lover with Wink Frozen Desserts. An entire pint of their Cocoa-dough is only 100 calories. The frozen treat is made from a vegetable pea protein and is minus the major food allergens as it is vegan, fat-free, sugar-free, soy-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and egg-free. A pint has 16 grams of carbs, zero sugar and 8 grams of protein.
Everyone knows that the best part of your chocolate love muffin is on top! Vitalicious Vita Tops wraps up the best part of the muffin in a perfect package. The All Natural 2 oz. Deep Chocolate Kosher Vita Tops are made with real cocoa, chocolate chips, whole wheat and organic sugar.
Each muffin top contains 100 calories, 1.5g fat, 9g fiber and 4g protein. They are a little higher in carbs at 26 grams and 11 grams of sugar.
Sources:
“Heart Prevention – ClevelandClinic.org.” The Cleveland Clinic. Web 24 Sept. 2013.
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/prevention/nutrition/chocolate.aspx
“Health Benefits of Chocolate – WomensHealthMag.com.” Women’s Health Mag. Web 24 Sept. 2013.
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/benefits-of-chocolate
SweetRiot.com. Web 24 Sept. 2013.
http://shop.sweetriot.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=182
HailMerry.com. Web 24 Sept. 2013.
http://www.hailmerry.com/macaroons/channel7.html
Wink FrozenDesserts.com. Web 24 Sept. 2013.
http://www.winkfrozendesserts.com
Vitalicious.com. Web 24 Sept. 2013.
http://www.vitalicious.com/allnachvi1.html
Joanne Sgro-Killworth is a Television Fitness Expert, Certified Personal Trainer and Sport Nutritionist and Publicist. She is Certified in Pilates, Pre-natal/Post-Partum, Yoga and Senior Fitness. She specializes in Weight Loss, Post-Rehab and Post Cancer Training.
Joanne's fitness plans, recipes and lifestyle advice are available globally on her website www.happiwoman.com/ She resides in the Phoenix, AZ area with her husband and son, where she runs her fitness and publicity business, Fitness Answer, LLC.
Reviewed September 25, 2013
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith