Eating healthy dark chocolate is the key to a long and happy life.
Ok. Maybe not EXACTLY, but where would my life be without chocolate? I don’t know.
Probably somewhere between sad and empty.
Not only is chocolate delicious, but I’m sure you’ve also heard that it does actually have some health perks. Like being a total badass antioxidant (flavanols, ya’ll!), along with a solid dose of potassium, magnesium and iron, PLUS zinc and copper. I could go on, but I think you get the point.
Cocoa is healthy!
There are, however, golden rules to eating chocolate. Rules that are not hard to do, but can be easy to forget. And they should be followed closely in order to get the best health results from your chocolate.
Here they are. Pay close attention, now.
How to eat chocolate and stay healthy
First off, recognize that the lighter color of the chocolate you eat, the less health benefits you’re getting because the chocolate is being replaced by sugar.
White chocolate and milk chocolate have the most sugar.
And the more sugar you eat, the more you’re going to want to eat. That’s just how it work, guys. But it’s not just extra added sugar. The less actual cocoa content is in your chocolate, the more room there is for other things that don’t have the superpower strength that chocolate has.
This brings us to number 2.
Learn to love dark chocolate. The darker the better.
This doesn’t mean you have to run around pretending to love 85% dark. Believe me when I say I DO NOT do this. That’s the kind of chocolate that’s a step down from eating a spoonful of packed cocoa powder. Which might be where all the nutrients are but it can be so ruthless on your tongue, you might need a gallon of water to wash it down.
I’m not knocking those die-hards out there who swear by the 85% dark. I’m just saying. It’s not the ONLY way to chocolate healthfully. There IS some wiggle room.
The only chocolate rules you SHOULD have are as follows:
1. Stick to 65-72% dark. It’s just sweet enough that you don’t feel like you’re eating chalk, and it’s not sweet enough that you’ll inhale the entire package without enliven blinking. This kind will keep you eating slower and satisfy you faster. It also comes in a ton of great flavors, so there’s something for everyone.
2. Go higher quality. It’s going to be a bit more expensive and it should be. Because you’re paying for what you get, which is better quality chocolate with more nutrients and less fillers. That means you can feel better about your chocolate picks and that’s why we’re here.
I’m not saying you should only eat $12 bars of boutique chocolate that contains single origin, sustainable sourced chocolate where the manufacturer spends long weekends with the farmer and their family. It’s great if you do, but there are other options.
If you want some brand recommendations that are easy to find with pretty decent ingredients, these are my favorites:
Ghiradelli 60% dark chocolate baking chips. I can eat the chips right out of the bag, and usually keep at least 2 in the closet. Just in case.
Lindt 70% Excellence. One of my go-to chocolate bars. It’s pretty easy to find, and really easy to eat.
Chocolove 65% dark. One of those really rich and creamy bars that has a whole lot of fun flavors while keeping their chocolate good and dark.
If you’re a TRUE chocolate lover, you’ll probably also love this VERY healthy frozen hot chocolate smoothie recipe. Any excuse to have chocolate first thing in the morning, amiright?
There you have it. All you need to do to enjoy your chocolate responsibly.
What’s your favorite dark chocolate bar? Hit me up and let me know what your go-to is.