TOO-GOOD-TO-BE-TRUE HEALTH FOOD OR UNHEALTHY TREAT? THE TRUTH ABOUT DARK CHOCOLATE
As we enter the holiday season, you’ll no doubt find yourself in the middle of all sorts of tasty, chocolaty holiday desserts. If chocolate is your weakness, you might think that simply substituting anything milk chocolate with dark chocolate — espoused to have all sorts of properties that make it “healthy” — will allow you to eat all your favorite treats to your heart’s content. The truth, however, is a bit more complicated. You may have seen studies referenced in the media citing the supposed health benefits of dark chocolate, with some even going as far as to call dark chocolate a “health food.” It sounds too good to be true, right? Well, as is the case with most things that sound too good to be true, it is actually false. In fact, you can trace some of the information about dark chocolate back to studies disseminated from the candy companies themselves. Dark chocolate is no more a health food than any other treat you might indulge in during the holiday season. However, that’s not to say it doesn’t have any nutritional value. The primary ingredient in dark chocolate, cocoa, contains a good dose of flavonoids, which can benefit heart health and potentially even lower the risk of diabetes (though none of this is certain). Dark chocolate also contains minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, phosphorus, and magnesium, which all can lead to certain health benefits as well. The reason dark chocolate isn’t
exactly a “health food,” however, is not because of the absence of healthy ingredients but because their concentration is diluted.
In order to really benefit from the nutrients in dark chocolate, you have to eat a lot of dark chocolate — at which point, all the added sugar negates any benefit you might get from the cocoa’s nutrients. If you’re looking for a source of flavonoids, iron, zinc, and other minerals, you’re better off finding something healthier.
That being said, if you’re deciding between holiday treats, something with dark chocolate might not be a bad way to go. But just because it has a few more nutrients than some other desserts does not make dark chocolate a health food.
TAKE A BREAK
FESTIVE APPLE CIDER
If you’re cutting back on calories, skip the eggnog and buttered rum this year and fill up your mug with this delicious mulled cider!
INGREDIENTS
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1 lemon
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2 tsp allspice berries
1 gallon pure apple cider
1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
1 large orange, thinly sliced crosswise
2 tbsp honey
2 tsp whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
DIRECTIONS
1. Using a paring knife, shave the lemon peel off in curls. Reserve the curls and save the lemon for use in a different recipe. 2. In a large slow cooker, combine the lemon peel with all other ingredients. Cook on low for 3–4 hours. 3. If desired, use a sieve to strain the spices. Serve and enjoy!
Inspired by BoulderLocavore.com
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