Homemade Bitter Dark Chocolate With Hazelnut and Pistachio
Preparation Time: 30 min / Keep in Fridge: 2 hour
Dark chocolate is one of the anomalies of nutrition. Researchers have been intrigued by the bitter sweet superfood for years, not only because it is incredibly delicious and satisfies you sweet tooth, but also because there are dozen of scientific studies suggesting there are on overhelming number of health benefits in this nutrient and antioxidant rich treat.
Well, did you know that you can make healthy chocolate at home using ofi’s Cocoa and hazelnut?
5 Healthy Reasons to Eat Dark Chocolate
1. Dark chocolate is nutritious and delicious
A 100 g bar of dark chocolate with 70-85% cocoa contains;
(Source: Nutrient data for this listing was provided by USDA SR-21)
- 11 g of fiber
- 67% of the RDI for Iron
- 58% of the RDI for magnesium
- 89% of the RDI for copper
- 98% of the RDI for manganese
2. Dark chocolate may send good cholesterol up, bad cholesterol down
Consuming dark chocolate can improve several important risk factors for heart disease. In a controlled study, cocoa powder was found to significantly decrease oxidized LDL cholesterol in man. It also increased HDL and lowered total LDL for those with high cholesterol.
3. May reduce hearth disease risk
In a study of 470 elderly men, cocoa was found to reduce the risk of death from hearth disease by a whopping 50% over a 15 years period.
Another study revealed that eating chocolate two or more times per week lowered the risk of having calcified plague in the artering by 32%. Eating chocolate less frequently had no effect.
4. Dark chocolate may protect your skin from sun
The bioactive compounds in dark chocolate may also be great for your skin. The flovanols can protect against sun damage, improve blood flour to the skin and increase skin density and hydration.
For example; manganese supports the production of collagen, a protein that helps keep skin looking young and healthy, other minerals like calcium help repair and renew skin which is pretty important because according to American Acedemy of Dermatology, our bodies can shed up to 40.000 skin cells each day!
Dark chocolate could improve blood sugar levels, and reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
In a study published in 2017 the Journal of Community and Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives, the flavonoids in dark chocolate were found to reduce oxidative stress, which scientists think is the primary cause of insulin resistance. By improving your body’s sensitivity to insulin, resistance is reduced and in turn the risk of diseases like diabetes decreases.
Contents of Chocolate
- Cocoa butter
- Coconut oil
- ofi’s cocoa
- ofi’s whole roasted hazelnut
- Pistachio
- Honey (instead of sugar)
Stay Healthy.
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Mustafa Ömeroğlu