Why You Should Eat More Chocolate!

Resolved to be a happier & healthier you in the new year? Don’t forego the chocolate

by Adonna Rometo

Dark chocolate, from the Theobroma Cacoa tree (literally, “the food of the gods”) offers great super-food constituents. Composed of the nutrient “gems” seratonin, coumarin, calcium, magnesium, dopamine, anandamide, and theobromine, to name a few, cacao offers great health benefits.

Western science is just beginning to unlock the secrets of this ancient cure-all. Here are some of the findings:

Cacao & Cardiovascular Health:

• Decreases hypertension
• Decreases LDL (“bad”) choleterol
• Increases HDL (“healthy”) cholesterol
• Decreases risk of stroke

Cacao & Cognition:

• Increases alertness
• Increases blood flow to brain
• Promote neurogenesis & neural function

Cacao & Vision:

• Increases blood flow to retina
• Improves vision

Cacao & Satiety:

• Reduces cravings for sweet, salty, & fatty foods
• Increases insulin sensitivity
• Reduces risk for diabetes

Cacao & Romance:

• Increases libido

* Note: the health benefits of chocolate is best seen with organic, dark chocolate (at least 70% cacao) that has low levels of sugar, and few preservatives & additives.  Increasing the proportion of cacao will create a darker chocolate.

Wanting to experiment on your own? Try this easy recipe!

At Home Recipe:

**1-2 cups Raw, unsweetened cacao powder (or cacao nibs finely ground in the coffee grinder) Increasing the proportion of cacao will create a darker chocolate

– 1 cup Coconut oil

– Honey (or other preferred sweetener) to taste (the less sugar, the healthier)

– Herbs, spices, nuts, etc. (peppermint, cinnamon, vanilla, cayenne, acai, maca root, ginger, etc) to taste

Melt coconut oil over low heat. Mix in cacao (powder or nibs). Add in honey to taste. Stir in herbs and/or spices of choice. Pour into ice-cube tray or candy mold & place into fridge or freezer until solid. Enjoy!

**All ingredients available at the Marquette Food Co-op

by Adonna Rometo

Adonna Rometo, PhD, LMT is a massage therapist and natural therapeutics specialist who focuses on holistic health and vitality. After earning her PhD in Physiological Sciences with minors in Neuroscience and Medical Pharmacology at the University of Arizona, Adonna worked at a meditation center in Albuquerque, New Mexcio before opening her own massage practice and eventually moving to Marquette, Michigan. She is owner of “Wild Wonderful You”, providing therapeutic body work, jewelry and artistic expression, and workshop opportunities (including “Chocolate As Medicine.”) For more information, visit www.wildwonderfulyou.com

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