7 Things To Avoid In Your Halloween Chocolate

Time for another Fit Foodie Friday…

If you’re a Foodie like me, you like food too much to deny life’s great pleasures. And chocolate is definitely one of those things that most of us Foodies will never be able to abandon.

But when it comes to your health, there’s GOOD chocolate and there’s BAD chocolate. Personally, I enjoy the taste and texture of the good stuff more than the bad.

Enjoying organic dark chocolate can actually be quite beneficial to your health — in moderation of course. Did you know it's even a great source of antioxidants?

Chocolate is made from the beans of the cacao tree, Theobroma Cacao Plant. Cacao is full of flavanoids that are commonly known for their antioxidant activity. A small bar of dark chocolate can contain as many flavonoids as six apples, four and a half cups of tea, or two glasses of red wine. (Fat Burning Kitchen)

Mike Geary, author of Fat Burning Kitchen, lists seven more health benefits of this sinfully delicious treat in his most excellent treatise on healthy eatin'.

But to balance them out, there are also 7 dastardly sins which you must avoid if you want to make the best choice for you and your kids this Halloween.

• Trans fat -- An artery-clogging type of fat that forms when vegetable oils are hardened into margarine or shortening.
• High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) -- Contains no enzymes, vitamins or minerals, and leeches micronutrients from your body. Raises your blood sugar levels beyond acceptability, and leads to insulin resistance and weight gain. It really is a metabolic poison and, in many ways, acts identical to alcohol with chronic exposure when eaten in high amounts.
• Artificial sweeteners -- Never allow anything "artificial" in your chocolate.
• Soy proteins -- Unfermented soy can cause digestive distress and a weakened immune system.
• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) -- An excitotoxin, which over-excites your cells to the point of damage or total destruction. Can potentially cause brain damage and other disabilities to varying degrees.
• Preservatives and stabilizers -- Avoid anything artificial and look for only organic ingredients.
• Milk or milk byproducts -- Could impact how well you absorb the healthy antioxidants in the chocolate.

(These 7 deadly chocolate sins are from Dr Mercola’s newsletter)

Milk chocolate is generally a source of most or all of the above no-no's. These aren’t easy things to avoid. Your standard Halloween fare is resplendent in these ingredients.

Making the right choice will make Halloween more difficult and expensive. But if you care about your health and the health of your family, isn't it worth it? Don't be tricked by your treats...

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More Fit Foodie Friday...

Butter Me Up…

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Comments

[Kate]

Do you have any suggested brands?

[Adam Steer]

I like a brand from a local fair trade / organic advocate called Nagua.
But most good grocery stores carry good quality organic dark chocolate.
Look for at least 70% cacao.

Cheers,

Adam

[The Mind Relaxer]

Better late than never, nice information.. very informative!