Healthy Chocolate...is that possible?

I recently found some articles about the health benefits of dark chocolate and thought I'd share it with you all.

Health Benefits include:

• enhances immune function
• repairs exercise-induced muscle damage
• enhances energy metabolism
• improves cardiovascular and lung function
• improves blood flow to the brain, thereby affecting mental function, cognition, and mood
• enhances mood
• decreases depression
• moderates emotional response
• provides high amounts of antioxidants
• prevents cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and other diseases
• decreases blood clotting
• controls blood sugar/insulin levels
• decreases inflammation
• minimizes the oxidation of harmful cholesterol
• protects the eye's sensitive tissue and nerves
• minimizes damage to cell DNA
• regulates genes that control weight gain
• reduces cravings
• suppresses appetite and stabilizes blood sugar levels
• protects the skin from UV radiation
• prevents tooth decay

Just to name a few of the benefits. I've highlighted what I like about having healthy chocolate.  It's incredible.
If you don't believe me, just google dark chocolate and read for yourself or click here

 http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=dark+chocolate+health+benefits&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=dark+choco&gs_rfai=&fp=686584fbbbb57664

So if you are a chocolate lover and need your fix everyday, make sure you are eating the RIGHT kind of chocolate.  Chocolate should be cold-pressed to keep the antioxidant properties and not heated above 110 F.  Avoid products high in refined sugars.  Instead, good sweetening agents include low-glycemic sugars like agave or fructose.  Avoid chocolate products with milk fats and hydrogenated oils.  Look chocolate with at least 70% pure cocoa powder.  

I've also shared with you several recipes using raw chocolate powder (see raw fudge).
If you are interested in trying some dark chocolate or want to know more about the source I get it from, feel free to call me 801-400-4859 or click on the site below.

http://www.patrickschocolateshop.com/

Recipes I'll be demonstrating at cooking class Sat, June 5

1) Hummous Spread & Veggies


2) Kick Start Green Drink

3) California Fiesta Salad

4) Potato Leek Soup

5) Spaghetti Squash Ratatouille

6) Kale with Garlic

7) Raw Fudge

8) Berries & Quinoa

It's going to be alot of fun.  If you can join us, please come.  Every Saturday at 10:30am

eating healthy doesn't cost more

One of the main concerns I hear from people about eating healthier is that they can't afford it. Think about it like this, sure it's cheaper to buy a pack of ramen noodle with 0 nutrients and live enzymes but it won't be cheaper when you're sick with a disease and have to pay for health care.  As my 4 year-old-son loves to say, "OHH, burn!" I think he got it from his older siblings but he says it all the time even when it doesn't make sense.  (For example the other day he had an accident in his pants and said, "Hey mom, I wet in my pants, Oh! Burn mom!")  Anyways, I'm getting side tracked.  The point is it really isn't more expensive to eat healthy.  Obviously, budgeting and smart shopping is a must.  But even if all you can do is make your family 1 green drink a day, that's a perfect way to ensure proper nutrition at a very low cost. 

I'm a numbers girl. I like working with numbers, probably why I chose to be a math teacher.  Anyways,  I calculated how much it costs to make a little over 2 quarts of HULK juice which is around $3.50-$4.00/day.  2-3 quarts of greens will supply you and your family with over 10 servings of live enzymes and nutrients.  Think how often we blow $ on foods and drinks with a small fraction of nutrients. 

Recipe for Hulk Juice

1 quart unfiltered apple juice
2 handfuls of mixed greens
2 handfuls of spinach
3 chard leaves
3 kale leaves
frozen fruit and ice

I use a regular blender and can't get it smooth like those with the VitaMix blenders.  So I make all my drinks into smoothies by adding frozen fruit and ice so my kids don't notice the chunks of greens as much.  If you are a newbie to green smoothies, be sure you don't make it in front of your kids, put it in a cup with a straw to hide the color and do less greens and more fruit.  Let me know how it goes!